US07713717B2
A method of preparing a yeast usable in a fermentation test for evaluating malt on the laboratory scale whereby more reproducible test data can be obtained regardless of the operation conditions of a plant, etc.; and a medium to be used therein. A yeast for the fermentation test for evaluating malt is prepared by culturing a yeast in a liquid medium containing 0 to 2.5% by weight of glucose, 6.0 to 9.0% by weight of maltose, 0 to 2.5% by weight of sorbitol, 0 to 1.0% by weight of peptone and 0.3 to 1.0% by weight of yeast extract at 10 to 20° C. for 2 to 4 days under shaking (primary culture), then in the medium in an increased amount compared with the primary culture at 10 to 20° C. for 3 or 4 days under shaking (secondary culture), then in the medium in a further increased amount compared with the secondary culture at 8 to 9° C. for 7 to 9 days under stirring until the plats attains 3.0° P. or less (tertiary culture), allowing to stand in a cold room for 3 to 24 hours and then collecting the yeast.
US07713714B2
A method for inducing proliferation of cytolytic T cells is described.
US07713712B2
The present invention relates to an antibody active against a fusion polypeptide comprising a histidine portion, a process for the preparation thereof and its use.
US07713710B2
A small percentage of cells within an established tumor have the properties of stem cells. These solid tumor stem cells give rise both to more tumor stem cells and to the majority of cells in the tumor that have lost the capacity for extensive proliferation and the ability to give rise to new tumors. The solid tumor heterogeneity reflects the presence of tumor cell progeny arising from a solid tumor stem cell. This discovery is the basis for solid tumor stem cell compositions, methods for distinguishing functionally different populations of tumor cells, methods for using these tumor cell populations for studying the effects of therapeutic agents on tumor growth, and methods for identifying and testing novel anti-cancer therapies directed to solid tumor stem cells.
US07713696B2
Methods and kits for predicting the efficacy of antifolate (e.g., methotrexate) treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by detecting polymorphisms, particularly single nucleotide polymorphisms, in adenosine pathway genes.
US07713693B1
Disclosed are nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoded by a novel Neuroendocrine-like marker (NELM) and diagnostic techniques for the detection of human prostate cancer utilizing such nucleic acid and amino acid sequences. Genetic probes and methods useful in monitoring the progression, diagnosis, and response to therapy of prostate cancer, as well as identifying compounds that promote prostate cancer are described.
US07713685B2
An exposure system includes a cleaning unit for cleaning a surface of a resist film formed on a wafer with a cleaning fluid and an exposure unit for performing pattern exposure with an immersion liquid provided between the resist film and a projection lens.
US07713678B2
The invention mainly intends to provide a resist material that is high in the sensitivity to light and an electron beam and enables to form a clear and fine pattern with less exposure. In order to achieve the object, the invention provides a resist material comprising a metal compound, wherein a metal element constituting the metal compound is a 14th group or 15th group metal element and the metal compound is a stoichiometrically incomplete compound.
US07713663B2
In the photomask blank 100, which is an original plate of a transfer mask having a transfer pattern to be transferred to the body to be subjected to transfer on the substrate 10, the photomask blank 100 includes a light shielding film 20 becoming the transfer pattern and a resist film 30 on the substrate 10, and the resist film 30 formed on the peripheral edge of the main surface of the substrate 10 is removed in a predetermined region in a supported region 31 of the photomask blank 100 supported by the substrate holding member of the exposure device, so that a desired pattern positional accuracy and a desired focus accuracy are obtained, when the transfer mask having the transfer pattern obtained by patterning the light shielding film 20 is supported by the substrate holding member of the exposure device. With this structure, when a reticle is mounted on the substrate holding member of a stepper, the deformation of the reticle is suppressed, and lowering of a positional accuracy of the transfer pattern and the lowering of a focus accuracy can be suppressed to minimum.
US07713658B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a material for electrolytic solutions suited for use as material in electrolytic solutions serving as ionic conductors in electrochemical devices, such as large-capacity cells or batteries.The present invention is related to a material for electrolytic solutions which comprises, as an essential constituent, an anion represented by the general formula (1): wherein X represents at least one element selected from among B, N, O, Al, Si, P, S, As and Se; M1 and M2 are the same or different and each represents an organic linking group; a is an integer of not less than 1, and b, c and d each independently is an integer of not less than 0.
US07713655B2
Disclosed herein is a battery module constructed in a structure in which a cell stack, including a plurality of secondary battery cells (‘battery cells’) or a plurality of unit modules, each of which including a plurality of battery cells, stacked with high density, is mounted in a hexahedral module case, wherein the module case is provided at least one side thereof with a sliding coupling structure, and the battery module has a variable grip mounted thereto.
US07713653B2
Improved portable power sources such as batteries, fuel cells, power generators and the like can include structure or apparatus that are adapted to provide an indication of the power capacity remaining within the portable power source. In some cases, these power sources may be configured to accommodate remote communication regarding their remaining power capacity.
US07713648B2
A pair of reactant cover plates, e.g., fluid manifolds or protective covers (11, 12), on opposite sides of a fuel cell stack (7) are drawn to the fuel cells (14) and pressure plates (8) by tensioning lines, e.g., cables (23) or straps (23a), which may extend around structures, e.g., pins or extensions (11a, 12a; 11e, 12e) extending outwardly from the ends of the cover plates or guides (22a) on the stack, e.g., on the pressure plates in a closed loop, and are tensioned by a tensioning device, such as a turnbuckle (24).
US07713643B2
A collector plate (14) is connected to an output terminal (16). The collector plate (14) is made such that heat capacity per unit area of a neighboring region (14A) thereof, which is near to a portion where the output terminal (16) is connected, is different to the heat capacity per unit area of other regions (14B, 14C). More specifically, the other regions (14B, 14C) are formed such that the heat capacity per unit area thereof is smaller than that of the neighboring region (14A).
US07713640B2
This invention disclosure describes methods for the fabrication of metal oxide films on surfaces by topotactic anion exchange, and laminate structures enabled by the method. A precursor metal-nonmetal film is deposited on the surface, and is subsequently oxidized via topotactic anion exchange to yield a topotactic metal-oxide product film. The structures include a metal-oxide layer(s) and/or a metal-nonmetal layer(s).
US07713636B2
This disclosure relates to multi-layer films having improved peel strength properties and comprising a core layer and a first tie layer made from at least 5 wt % of a grafted propylene-based polymer. Optionally, the multi-layer film may have one or more skin layers, and/or a second tie layer.
US07713629B2
A polyelectrolyte film is provided, the polyelectrolyte film comprises an interpenetrating network of a net positively charged polymer and a net negatively charged polymer, wherein the net positively charged polymer, the net negatively charged polymer, or both contain polymer repeat units with at least two fluorine atoms.
US07713614B2
To provide a resin composition comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) having an ethylene content of from 15 to 65 mol % and a degree of saponification of 95 mol % or more, a phosphoric acid salt (B) which can form a hydrate, and a dispersing agent (C), wherein the dispersing agent (C) comprises at least one species selected from the group consisting of aliphatic acid salts, glycerol aliphatic acid esters and aliphatic acid amides, the resin composition comprises (A) and (B) in amounts of from 50 to 99 parts by weight and from 1 to 50 parts by weight, respectively, based on 100 parts by weight of (A) and (B) in total, and the resin composition comprises (C) in an amount of from 1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of (B). This resin composition excels in gas barrier property and also in moisture resistance at high temperatures and high humidities. Therefore, it is suitable for food packaging containers to be retorted.
US07713611B2
A display apparatus includes a display and a display filter, wherein the display filter includes a base film, a plurality of reflective elements, and a plurality of light absorbing elements, wherein each of the light absorbing elements corresponds to a reflective element.
US07713603B2
A molded article is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the molded article includes a blow-molded parison of material having an undercut formed in a surface of the parison of material. An apparatus for providing an undercut molding feature in a mold tool is also disclosed. According to an embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more undercut forming surfaces and an actuator pin that causes the one or more undercut forming surfaces to move to/from an undercut molding position or an undercut de-molding position. A method for providing an undercut molding feature in a mold tool is also disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method includes the step of moving an actuator to a position of engagement with one or more undercut forming surfaces to cause movement of the one or more undercut forming surfaces to/from an undercut molding position and an undercut de-molding position. A method for molding a molded article is also disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method includes the steps of moving an actuator to a first position of engagement with one or more undercut forming surfaces to cause movement of said one or more undercut forming surfaces to an undercut molding position proximate a surface in a mold tool cavity, providing material into the mold tool cavity, molding the material to conform to the one or more undercut forming surfaces and surface of the mold tool cavity, and moving said actuator to a second position of engagement with said one or more undercut forming surfaces to cause movement of said one or more undercut forming surfaces to a de-molding position proximate said surface in said mold tool cavity.
US07713597B2
A durable optical film or element includes a polymerized structure having a microstructured surface and a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof. Display devices including the durable microstructured film are also described.
US07713594B2
In order in particular to allow interconnects to be applied to a component (2) by a thermal spraying process in such a way that they are clearly delimited from one another, before the actual spraying process the surface (8) of the component (2) is treated, in particular laser treated, in such a way that a non-adhering region (14) with a nub-like surface structure is formed.
US07713579B2
The coating apparatus includes a base for supporting a slot die, wherein the base has a height of not more than 5 m from a ground level, and a mean cross sectional area of not less than 3 m2 in terms of a horizontal direction.
US07713575B2
A method and apparatus for the formation of coplanar electrical interconnectors. Solder material is deposited onto a wafer, substrate, or other component of an electrical package using a complaint mold such that the terminal ends of the solder material being deposited, i.e., the ends opposite to those forming an attachment to the wafer, substrate, or other component of an electrical package are coplanar with one another. A complaint mold is used having one or more conduits for receiving solder material and having a compliant side and a planar side. The compliant side of the mold is positioned adjacent to the wafer, substrate, or other component of an electrical package allowing solder material to be deposited onto the surface thereof such that the planar side of the compliant mold provides coplanar interconnectors. An Injection Molded Solder (IMS) head can be used as the means for filling the conduits of the compliant mold of the present invention.
US07713572B2
The invention is to products for enhancing the nutrient value of distillers, brewers or fermenters grain byproducts using an injector or mixer to add predetermined amounts of nutrients to the grains. The byproduct nutrient obtained is heated, dried and/or extruded to increase the ruminant bypass protein of the nutrient product.
US07713570B2
The present invention provides a method for the preparation of high liquid oil margarine in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion wherein selected phospholipids (for example, PC, PE and lyso-PC/PE) play an important role in stabilizing the margarine. The total fat content of said high liquid oil margarine is made up of a minimum of about 96% liquid oil and a maximum of about 4% added hard fat and phospholipids. The method comprises preparing a water-in-oil emulsion by blending an aqueous phase with oil phase at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of the added hard fat and reducing said temperature until hard fat crystallization occurs, and supercooling in heat exchanger to obtain a high liquid oil margarine. The method of the invention uses selected phospholipids and the use of heat exchanger “votator” for fat crystal nucleation and provides a margarine comprising very low levels of saturated fats and virtually no trans fatty acids.
US07713568B2
A method for altering a coffee source component profile of a coffee source to mimic a target coffee component profile of a target coffee, wherein the coffee source and the target coffee each comprise multiple taste contributing acids.
US07713567B2
A method for altering a coffee source component profile of an aged coffee source to mimic a target coffee component profile of a non-aged coffee source, wherein the aged coffee source and the non-aged coffee each comprise multiple taste contributing acids.
US07713564B2
Methods for preparing cheese are provided that involve combining a slurry with a cheese precursor to form an admixture that is subsequently processed to form the cheese product. The slurry typically includes a liquid such as water, milk and/or cream and one or more ingredients that are useful for inclusion in the final cheese product. Systems for preparing such slurries and cheese products are also provided.
US07713563B2
A process for preparing butter milk and/or butter serum, which comprises decreasing the dissolved oxygen concentration of at least one selected from the group consisting of milk, a milk product, butter milk and butter serum, followed by heating, and optionally fractionizing the heated product.
US07713557B2
A natural oriental medicinal composition for the promotion of hair growth is provided. The oriental medicinal composition includes a black bean extract, a tangerine extract, a potato extract, a pine needle extract and a quartzite powder. Since the oriental medicinal composition includes crude drugs extracted from natural substances that can prevent hair loss, it is effective for hair growth and has ensured biostability. Particularly, the oriental medicinal composition allows newborn hair to grow in the form of stiff hair.
US07713546B1
A soft gelatin capsule and method to deliver an efficable dose of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. (marketed by Soft Gel Technologies under the trademark Glucosol™) for the assistance and maintenance of moderate weight loss through blood sugar maintenance. The product relies on the effects of corosolic acid on blood sugar levels to derive a healthy weight loss effect for Type II diabetics (non-insulin dependent) and healthy non-diabetics and the improved absorption of an oil based delivery system. The product provides safe and sustainable weight loss when combined with a restricted calorie diet and regular exercise. Its benefits include improvement of cardiovascular health, normalized blood sugar levels, and improved physical appearance with the positive psychological effects associated with successful and safe weight loss/maintenance.
US07713537B2
Annoying insects are controlled by attaching an insect control device to the body of the animal to be treated. The insect control device is a molded article, preferably in the form of an ear tag, which has been formed from a powder mixture of coumaphos and diazinon, polyvinyl chloride, and a plasticizer. The coumaphos and diazinon are generally used in an amount that would prolong the insecticidal activity without detracting from the suitability of the device.
US07713531B2
An object of the present invention is to search and identify novel antifungal proteins capable of inhibiting the growth of plant pathogenic microorganisms including Magnaporthe grisea and Rhizoctonia solani causing two major rice diseases at relatively low concentrations, and further to clone a gene for said protein. The present invention provides an antifungal protein which can be obtained from fraction(s) precipitated by ammonium sulfate precipitation using an aqueous extract from Pleurotus cornucopiae, wherein said protein has an antifungal activity against at least rice blast, and exhibits existence of a component having a molecular weight of about 15 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE method; a gene encoding said protein and uses thereof.
US07713530B2
The invention describes HIV-1 subtype isolate regulatory/accessory genes, and modifications and derivatives thereof. The genes which are described are the tat, nef and rev genes. Consensus amino acid sequences are also disclosed. The invention also relates to a vaccine including two or more of the nucleotide sequences, and nucleotide sequences from the pol and/or gag genes of HIV-1.
US07713526B2
The diverse receptor-ligand pairs of the Wnt and frizzled (Fzd) families play important roles during embryonic development, and thus may be overexpressed in cancers that arise from immature cells. The mRNA levels and expression levels of 5 Wnt (Wnt-1, 5a, 7a, 10b, 13) and 2 Fzd (Fzd-2, 5) genes in 10 head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines (HNSCC) were investigated. In addition, anti-Wnt-1 antibodies were used to study the Wnt/Fzd signalling pathway. These results indicate that HNSCC cell lines overexpress one or more Wnt and Fzd genes, and the proliferation and survival of a subset of HNSCC may depend on the Wnt/Fzd pathway. Therefore, the Wnt and Fzd receptors may be useful targets for immunotherapy of this common cancer.
US07713522B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases using ex vivo and in vivo gene delivery technologies. One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for treating a vascular disease by introducing a DNA sequence encoding a TM protein or its variant into a segment of a blood vessel ex vivo using a gutless adenovirus vector. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a gutless adenovirus vector carrying a transgene, such as a gene encoding TM protein or its variant.
US07713521B2
The present invention provides polypeptides including MCP1 fused, optionally, by a linker, to an immunoglobulin. Methods for using the polypeptides to treat medical disorders are also covered.
US07713520B2
A cosmetic comprising (A) a polymer having repeating units represented by the following formula (I) and repeating units represented by the following formula (II) wherein each R1 may be the same with or different from each other and is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, each of X1 and X2 is a divalent aromatic group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a group represented by the formula, —COOR7—, wherein R7 is an aliphatic-group bonded to A or B, A is an organopolysiloxane residue, and B is a group represented by the following formula (1), wherein each R3 may be the same or different from each other and is an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and d is an integer of from 1 to 10.
US07713514B2
An organized mobile multicomponent conjugate (OMMC) and method of using to enhance binding of weakly binding compounds to a target. A lamellar structure containing at least two binding compounds is assembled under conditions in which the binding compounds self-regulate in or on the lamellar structure, forming a cooperative ensemble that is capable of binding with enhanced affinity to a complementary affinity site on a target. Each binding compound is bound to the lamellar surface, and may be connected by a linker. The OMMC may contain an effector molecule, such as a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, for administration to a patent who is then diagnosed or treated using the effector molecule.
US07713509B2
A method of forming nitrogen-doped or other Group V-doped single-walled nanotubes including: forming a catalyst metal layer on a substrate; loading a substrate having the catalyst metal layer into a reaction chamber; forming an H2O or other plasma atmosphere in a reaction chamber; and forming the nitrogen-doped or other Group V-doped carbon nanotubes on the catalyst metal layer by supplying a carbon or other Group IV precursor and a nitrogen or other Group V precursor into a reaction chamber where a chemical reaction therebetween is generated in the H2O or other plasma atmosphere.
US07713500B2
A process for the oxidative leaching of sulphide mineral species, the method characterized by the method steps of: leaching a slurry containing the mineral species in one or more reaction vessels; circulating a stream of leach liquor to a flash cooler; flashing the liquor in the flash cooler at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure so as to dissipate heat; and recirculating the liquor to the or each reaction vessel.
US07713494B2
Disclosed is an exhaust purification device in which an entire length of an outer cylinder of a catalyst can be used effectively for exhaust purification and it is possible to prevent heat in fixing of the catalyst to an exhaust pipe from affecting a connection portion between the outer cylinder and catalyst main bodies. A catalyst includes an outer cylinder and a plurality of catalyst main bodies provided in the outer cylinder in a state of being spaced each other in a direction of an axial center of the outer cylinder. An outer face of the outer cylinder positioned between the catalyst main bodies is a fixed face to be fixed to an inside of the exhaust pipe.
US07713487B1
A guide for use with a manual pipette used in loading well plates is provided which insures the accuracy and efficiency of reservoir loading. The pipette guide is used in combination with a conventional well plate generally having 96-384 reservoirs. The guide allows for more exact delivery of liquid reagents to selected reservoirs without concern for missing or duplicating particular reservoirs during loading. The pipette guide is releasably locked onto the well plate and a slide outlines a specific row of reservoirs. In addition a reservoir isolator allows delivery to a single selected reservoir and protects against cross-contamination. Adjustable rods with notches therealong allow the slide and isolator to be precisely moved and indexed as desired.
US07713482B2
An enhancement control system that can be used as part of an enhanced water system to produce enhanced filtered water is described. The enhancement control system includes at least one enhancement delivery element that can dispense an enhancement(s) into filtered water in response to an enhancement delivery instruction(s). The enhancement control system can also include an input element that can enable transmittal of the enhancement delivery instruction(s) from a user to the enhancement delivery element(s). The control system can also include a memory element that can store information about the user and the user's preferences and information about the enhanced water system. The control system can also include a communication element that can provide information from the enhanced water system to the user. The control system can also include a monitor element that can gather data from outside the enhanced water system, such as user health information or environmental information, and provide the data to the enhanced water system. In some embodiments, a control logic element can be used to coordinate and control operation of the elements of the enhanced water system.
US07713478B2
Disclosed is equipment for measuring a silicon concentration in a phosphoric acid solution under use as an etching solution during operation of a semiconductor substrate processing system. The equipment is provided with at least a reaction tank and a concentration-measuring tank. The reaction tank includes a reaction unit for adding hydrofluoric acid to a predetermined constant amount of the phosphoric acid solution drawn out of the semiconductor substrate processing system to form a silicon fluoride compound and then causing the silicon fluoride compound to evaporate. The concentration-measuring tank comprises a hydrolysis unit for bubbling the silicon fluoride compound, which has evaporated from the reaction tank, through deionized water to hydrolyze the silicon fluoride compound and a measurement unit for determining a change rate of silicon concentration in the deionized water subsequent to the bubbling. Also disclosed is a method for measuring a silicon concentration in a phosphoric acid solution under recirculation and use as an etching solution in a semiconductor substrate processing system in operation.
US07713475B2
A lateral flow immunoassay test device is provided that includes a housing with an elongated slot for holding a test sample collector; an elongated holder member for securing at least one immunoassay test strip therein; a first chamber for storing a first, pre-treatment reagent; and a second chamber for storing a second reagent. Methods of conducting lateral flow immunoassays are also provided. The device and methods of conducting lateral flow immunoassays as provided herein are advantageous in that they allow pre-treatment and pre-incubation of the test sample so that the sample flows onto the test strip more easily and provide for increases in the sensitivity of the assay.
US07713467B2
A process for the production of a ball screw, which has at least one element produced powder metallurgically, is suggested, with which the at least one element is produced from a plurality of parts, wherein at least one first precursor body with a first joining area and one second precursor body with a second joining area are produced and the first precursor body and the second precursor body have been or are brought into contact via the first joining area and the second joining area prior to the sintering and/or during the sintering.
US07713464B2
The invention provides a multilayer container that comprises a polyglycolic acid layer and a thermoplastic polyester resin layer and is much improved in terms of gas barrier properties, heat resistance, moldability, transparency and durability, and its production process. Polyglycolic acid is used as a gas barrier resin. At the body and bottom, the thermoplastic polyester resin forms an inner and an outer layer, and an intermediate layer comprising at least one polyglycolic acid layer is embedded in the thermoplastic polyester resin layer. The opening end of the container is formed of a thermoplastic polyester resin layer alone, and the body is biaxially oriented. The multilayer container has heat resistance enough to stand up to hot-filling at 93° C. for 20 seconds.
US07713457B2
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for manufacturing sheet material. In one representative embodiment, a sheet of fabric material is positioned across a patterning template that has a number of openings; and the sheet of fabric material and the patterning template are fed through an extrusion device in which extrusion material coats the fabric material and forces the fabric material into the openings in the patterning template, thereby producing a composite sheet material.
US07713455B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a molding with a core by using compression molding means having upper and lower double-structured punches; the method comprising the steps of supplying molding material for the core and molding material for the outer layer respectively, the step of compression-molding the molding material for the core and/or the molding material for the outer layer, and the step of compression-molding the whole molding with a core, wherein: the step of supplying the molding material for the outer layer posterior to the step of supplying the molding material for the core is performed until a tip of the lower center punch finally takes a position protruding from a tip of the lower outer punch; and the step of compression-molding the whole molding with a core is performed with the tips of the lower center punch and the lower outer punch aligned with each other. This method can be expected to bring about the effect of enhancing the strength of a portion of outer layer forming the sidewall of the molding and/or the effect of allowing the molding material for the outer layer supplied after the step of supplying the molding material for the core to be led to under the temporary molding of the core thereby making it possible to manufacture a molding with a core through the molding material supply step performed twice.
US07713442B2
The present invention relates to metal silicate halide (halosilicate) phosphors, the phosphors with an oxide coating, methods of making the phosphors, and light emitting diode- (LED-) based lighting devices modified with the phosphors.
US07713439B2
Disclosed is a resin composition produced by melt-kneading a white pigment and a wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystal polyester. The resin composition can retain the excellent heat resistance and moldability of the wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystal polyester and have a satisfactory level of white light reflectance. The resin composition comprises 35 to 100 parts by weight of a white pigment particle and 100 parts by weight of a wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystal polyester, wherein the white pigment particle comprises 3 to 15 mass % of aluminum oxide and 97 to 85 mass % of a white pigment produced by a process including a roasting step and having a surface treated with the aluminum oxide (provided that the sum total of the white pigment and aluminum oxide is defined as 100 mass %). The resin composition can be produced by a process including a melt-kneading step.
US07713432B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for improving the etch uniformity across a substrate during a plasma etch process that employs the use of an inductively coupled plasma helical inductor. The plasma apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber, a support member in the vacuum chamber for holding the substrate, an etchant gas supply for providing an etchant gas to the vacuum chamber, an exhaust in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber, an RF power source and a helical inductor disposed around or near a portion of the vacuum chamber. A sensor is provided for measuring a process attribute to generate a signal to a controller that then controls a mechanism that varies the position of the helical inductor so that the uniformity of the plasma etch is improved.
US07713428B2
A process that comprises dry etching a trench into a side clad polymer layer using an underlying passive polymer layer as an etch stop, and then back filling the trench with an electro-optic polymer.
US07713425B2
An oil management system and oil filter utilized in association with an internal combustion engine. The oil filter comprises high-efficiency filtration media for filtering engine oil associated with the internal combustion engine. At least one type of time release additive can be impregnated into the filtration media, wherein the time release additives are automatically released into the engine oil filter from filtration media in order to replenish additives already present in the engine oil. Additionally, a sensor module can be provided that monitors oil quality and oil filter efficiency through detecting one or more attributes of the engine oil filtered through the filtration media of oil filter in order to efficiently conserve and manage the oil and reduce the interval of oil changes thereof by extending the life of the engine oil through the replenishment of the additives present in the engine oil and higher filtration effectiveness of the filter.
US07713422B2
Lignin and alkali are efficiently sorted out of alkaline black liquor discharged from the paper manufacturing/pulp and paper manufacturing industries and the treated water is made as purified water.Acid is added to the black liquor and its pH is adjusted to 2.5 to 3.5. An aggregating agent is added to have lignin contained in the black liquor settled and the black liquor is separated into lignin and clean water. Ozone gas, preferably in the micro bubble state, is given to the clean water for contact reaction.
US07713412B2
A hollow fiber filter device for dialysis having a housing and an end cap is described. The end cap is attached to an axial end of the housing, and has a curved channel in fluid communication with a fluid port, a fluid chamber having a flow path defined by a plurality of curved members connected to an upper interior surface. The distance between circumferentially adjacent curved members may decrease in a radially outward flow direction.
US07713411B2
A filter-dryer apparatus employing a single container for both filtering and drying operations including a container holding a material to be filtered and dried, adapted to connect to a filter system and to connect to a fluid bed dryer system, and a process for separating particulates from liquids by the operations of filtration and drying, which includes the steps of providing a single container for both filtering and drying operations; introducing a mixture of particles and liquid to said container; connecting the container to a filter system and filtering the particulates from the liquid; detaching the container from the filter system; connecting the container to a fluid bed drying system and removing the liquid from the particulates to result in dry particulates.
US07713405B2
An electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system may be used to estimate and/or calculate parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article. The apparatus involves a working electrode (having substantially the same composition of the electrically conductive article), a reference electrode, and a counter electrode in an environment of interest. The working electrode is placed under potentiostatic control. A current transient between the working electrode and the counter electrode is measured. The working electrode is switched to open potential. A potential transient is measured over the duration of a localized corrosion event. The localized corrosion may then be calculated based on the measured potential transient and the current transient.
US07713399B2
A continuous method for the treatment of a spent aqueous caustic stream used to scrub a hydrocarbon process stream to remove oxidizable sulfur-containing compounds includes: a. mixing an oxidizing hypochlorous acid stream produced from an aqueous brine solution with the aqueous caustic stream to form a reactive mixed feedstream; b. contacting the reactive mixed feedstream with at least one catalyst to promote the oxidation of the sulfur-containing compounds and the neutralization of the sodium hydroxide; and c. recovering a neutral treated product stream comprising aqueous sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride that is odorless, non-toxic and environmentally acceptable for discharge into the sea or into a conventional sewage treatment system. Preferably, the hypochlorous acid is produced by an electrolyzer that also produces a (1) hydrogen stream that is directed to a PEM fuel cell to generate at least a portion of the electrical power requirement of the electrolyzer, and (2) water that is combined with fresh sodium hydroxide from the electrolyzer to form a fresh caustic stream for use in scrubbing the hydrocarbon process stream.
US07713396B2
Lithium cobaltate forming the positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery is subjected together with lithium metal to reducing reaction in molten lithium chloride to produce lithium oxide and to precipitate and separate cobalt or cobalt oxide. The lithium oxide is subjected to electro-deposition in molten lithium chloride contained in a lithium electro-deposition tank provided with an anode and a cathode to recover lithium metal deposited on the cathode.
US07713393B2
A gas sensor having a gas sensor element which includes: a reference electrode; a solid electrolyte layer having oxygen ion conductivity; a detection electrode; and an electrode-protecting layer covering the detection electrode. The electrode-protecting layer is a porous body carrying catalytic metal, and includes: a detection electrode side portion having a catalytic metal loading ratio of more than 0% by weight and not more than 0.005% by weight; and a surface side portion provided closer to the outer surface of the electrode-protecting layer than the detection electrode side portion, the surface side portion having a catalytic metal loading ratio of 0.01% by weight or more.
US07713387B2
A process for removing trioxane from a use stream I of formaldehyde, trioxane and water, by a) providing a use stream I of formaldehyde as the main component and trioxane and water as the secondary components, b) mixing the use stream I with a recycle stream VII to obtain a feed stream Ia, c) distilling the use stream Ia in a first distillation stage to obtain a stream II of formaldehyde as the main component and water as the secondary component, and a stream III of trioxane as the main component and water and formaldehyde as the secondary components, d) distilling the stream III in a second distillation stage having a pressure higher than in the first distillation stage, to obtain a stream IV of trioxane and a stream V of trioxane as the main component and water and formaldehyde as the secondary components, e) distilling the stream V in a third distillation stage to obtain a stream VI of water and the recycle stream VII of trioxane as the main component and water and formaldehyde as the secondary components.
US07713385B2
Apparatus and method for treating a material web, which has at least one nip through which the material web is guided and which is formed between a first revolving, heated surface and a second revolving surface, it being possible for the first surface to be heated to at least 120° C. and both surfaces in the nip having the same direction of movement as the material web. Good surface quality of the material web is obtained by providing a box which bounds a space through which the material web is guided, the space being arranged after the first or after the last nip in the direction of movement of the web.
US07713376B2
A method of exposing components, which are carried by a carrier tape (2), arranged in sequence along the carrier tape (2) and covered by a cover (3). The cover is attached to the carrier tape having a lower surface facing the sequence of components. The method is performed by, while feeding the carrier tape towards the picking position, separating a first portion of the cover from a first portion (31) of the carrier tape. Thereafter, guiding a thus loosened portion of the cover towards the second side of the carrier tape. Performing said guiding such that before reaching the picking position, while being raised to an upright position, the cover is automatically gathered by being folded, so that at least two portions of the lower surface of the cover face each other, thereby reducing the height of the cover.
US07713373B2
A process for producing a web-like laminate material for packaging container composed of a base layer and a thermally sealable inner layer, comprising: introducing an oxygen-containing gas in a silver vapor atmosphere; carrying a web-like base film in the silver vapor atmosphere to form a thin film of metallic silver on a surface of the web-like base film; oxidizing the thin film into a thin film of silver oxide; drawing out the base film provided with the thin film of silver oxide from the silver vapor atmosphere to obtain a web-like base layer; laminating an inner face of the web-like base layer with a thermally sealable inner layer, printing a container design on an outer face of the web-like base layer; and forming a thermoplastic layer or a support layer on the outer face and inner face of the web-like base layer. A seal zone, vicinity thereof and entirety of the container can be formed in an antibacterial atmosphere or with an antibacterial material.
US07713372B2
A method for creating a tangible item (such as an “A” pillar garnishment 18) which increases the capacity of the item to absorb energy by the incorporation and/or addition of a plurality of adhesive-covered beads 25, and which utilizes the method and/or type of energy used to normally form the item to incorporate and/or add the adhesive-covered beads 25, thereby increasing efficiency while reducing cost. A new and novel tangible item, such as “A” pillar garnishment 18, having programmed energy absorption characteristics is also disclosed.
US07713368B2
A sheet S is stuck on the front surface of a wafer W, and the wafer W is supported on a table 20. A peeling tape T is stuck onto a peripheral portion of the sheet S and the peeling tape T is held by a peeling head 13. The peeling head 13 and the table 20 perform a relative movement along guide rails 25, the table 20 rotates a predetermined angle in clockwise and counterclockwise directions alternately via a swing mechanism 21 thereby peeling off the sheet S from the wafer W accompanying a zigzag movement.
US07713367B2
A covering, particularly for tables, comprises a layer of semi-permanent adhesive (2) on a clear polymer carrier layer (3) bearing a printed display layer (4). The covering may additionally comprise a substrate (1) of release paper to assist in applying the covering. The covering can be used semi-permanently to cover tables in restaurants and bars for examples, enabling the cover to be removed after a selected period. The cover may be used to present advertising material and may permit the table top to be visible through non-printed regions of the covering.
US07713352B2
A process is provided to produce bulk quantities of nanowires in a variety of semiconductor materials. Thin films and droplets of low-melting metals such as gallium, indium, bismuth, and aluminum are used to dissolve and to produce nanowires. The dissolution of solutes can be achieved by using a solid source of solute and low-melting metal, or using a vapor phase source of solute and low-melting metal. The resulting nanowires range in size from 1 nanometer up to 1 micron in diameter and lengths ranging from 1 nanometer to several hundred nanometers or microns. This process does not require the use of metals such as gold and iron in the form of clusters whose size determines the resulting nanowire size. In addition, the process allows for a lower growth temperature, better control over size and size distribution, and better control over the composition and purity of the nanowire produced therefrom.
US07713342B2
Phase change ink comprising carrier and colorant of formula wherein M is atom or group of atoms capable of bonding to central cavity of phthalocyanine molecule, wherein axial ligands optionally can be attached to M, each R′ is a substituent, each n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, each R″ is a substituent, each m is 0, 1, 2, or 3, each R is alkylene, arylene, arylalkylene, or alkylarylene, each X is —OH, —COOH, or wherein each Y and each Z is a direct bond, oxygen, or —NR1—, wherein R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl, provided that Z and Y are not both direct bonds connected to a single C═O moiety at the same time, provided that when X is —COOH, R can also be a direct bond, and each Rd is alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl.
US07713341B2
The present invention relates to a quaternary ammonium salt composition containing (a) a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the following general formula (1), (b) a specific tertiary amine and (c) an organic acid ester in specific mass ratios which is excellent in hue and storage stability, a process for producing the quaternary ammonium salt composition, and a wood preservative containing the quaternary ammonium salt composition. wherein R1 is an alkyl or alkenyl group; R2 is an alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl group; R3 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group; R4 is an alkylene group; n is a number of from 1 to 5; and A is a counter ion derived from sulfonic acid, etc.
US07713336B2
A removable disposable air dryer cartridge is provided for a small enterprise water ozonation system. The cartridge includes an air inlet to receive atmospheric air, a desiccant material to remove moisture, and a dry air outlet for interfacing with the ozonation system to provide dry air to an ozone generator. This facilitates better ozonation of water in the system, since dry air reacts better in an ozone generator, achieving higher concentrations of ozone gas, thus resulting in a better “kill rate” when ozonated water is applied to bacteria. The air dryer can be provided as a chamber of a combined air dryer and water filter cartridge, the other chamber being a water filter chamber having a water filter for extracting large particles of material from the water stream in order to prevent damage to the system.
US07713334B1
A process for removing epoxides from a process stream over a wide range of temperature and relative humidity, comprising the step of contacting the process stream with a filtration media comprising an acid form of a mesoporous zeolite produced from pentasil zeolite treated with a caustic agent, for a sufficient time to remove the epoxides therefrom.
US07713331B2
An elongated flow-through degassing apparatus includes an elongated gas and liquid impermeable outer member and a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable inner barrier extending within the outer member and at least partially along a first chamber defined within the outer member. The apparatus also includes inlet and outlet connection structures operably coupled to respective portions of the outer member and a second chamber defined by the inner barrier to further enable a sealed engagement between the outer member and the inner barrier, and to provide for connection devices to operably couple the degassing apparatus of the present invention to respective spaced apart components. The degassing apparatus may be sufficiently flexible so as to be readily manipulatable into desired configurations.
US07713328B2
There are disclosed metallic colloid particles containing platinum fine particles wherein platinum colloid particles are supported on the surfaces of gold colloid particles, and the platinum fine particles have an average particle diameter of at most 5 nm; a process for producing the metallic colloid particles; a metallic corpuscular carrying body wherein the above metallic colloid particles are supported on a carrier and a process for producing the carrying body. The resultant metallic colloid particles, which have higher sensitivity, are well suited as a label for immunological measurement and protein-staining agent for various proteins.
US07713317B2
A reactor including a high-temperature reaction unit which causes a reaction of a first reaction material to create a second reaction material and a product, and a low-temperature reaction unit which causes a reaction of the second reaction material at a temperature lower than in the high-temperature reaction unit. A coupling pipe is interposed between the high-temperature reaction unit and the low-temperature reaction unit and transfers the first reaction material and the product created with the reaction material between the high-temperature reaction unit and the low-temperature reaction unit. An external flow pipe is joined to the low-temperature reaction unit at its having one end. The external flow pipe has a plurality of flow pathways including a flow pathway for supplying the first reaction material to the high-temperature reaction unit through the low-temperature reaction unit and a flow pathway for discharging the product from the high-temperature reaction unit through the low-temperature reaction unit.
US07713313B1
The present invention provides a process for preparing lithium manganate having lithium-in cell stability by utilizing manganese oxides having lower oxidation states in the furnacing step and by using stoichiometric amounts of lithium hydroxide monohydrate and a manganese oxide in water as a starting mixture. Cr, Ni, Mg, AL oxides are optionally added.
US07713311B2
The present invention relates to aqueous liquid formulations comprising 5-30% by weight of a dye composition comprising 25-85% by weight of Direct Brown 44 15-75% by weight of Direct Yellow 11 and/or of a dye obtainable by reduction or thermal treatment of Direct Yellow 11 0-15% by weight of one or more blue direct dyes and 0-10% by weight of one or more red direct dyes all based on the dye composition 0.5-15% by weight of one or more alkylamines whose one, two or three alkyl radicals may each be substituted by one or two hydroxyl groups and/or amino groups and/or interrupted by one or two oxygen atoms in ether function, based on the total weight of the aqueous liquid formulation, the sodium content of the liquid formulation not exceeding 0.3% by weight, and also their use for dyeing cellulose material especially paper.
US07713306B2
A trial system for an acetabular prosthesis is described. The acetabular prosthesis is generally for implantation in an acetabulum and surrounding pelvis. The acetabular prosthesis includes an acetabular cup having a substantially concave inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface. The described acetabular prosthesis is especially useful in revision hip implant procedures where significant bone tissue loss has occurred either in or around the acetabulum and/or the pelvis. A collection of trial shells are provided to trial a range of motion of the hip joint before implanting a prosthetic shell into the acetabular prosthesis.
US07713287B2
A dynamic spine stabilization device is provided that includes at least one force imparting member, e.g., a spring. The force imparting member is adapted to deliver a force of between about 150 lb/inch and 450 lbs/inch, and restrict the relative travel distance between said first and second pedicles to a distance of between about 1.5 mm and 5 mm. The spinal stabilization devices also have a minimal impact on the location of the center of rotation for the spinal segment being treated. By providing resistance in the noted range and restricting the travel distance to the noted range, it has been found that the stabilization device provides a desired level of stabilization, as reflected by range of motion values that closely approximate pre-injury range of motion levels. In addition, the resistance levels are not so high as to alter the location of the center of rotation of the treated spinal segment from its normal anatomical location to levels previously obtained, thereby permitting substantially unimpeded angular motion despite the posterior presence of a stabilization device.
US07713286B2
The present invention provides a suture anchor capable of securing a suture to a body tissue.
US07713285B1
A suture anchor for anchoring a suture in the selected portion of an anatomical portion for fixing a suture thereto. The suture anchor including an anatomical engaging portion and a suture engaging portion wherein both the anatomical engaging portion and a suture engaging portion are adapted to be substantially disposed below an exterior of the anatomical portion after implantation. Suture eyelets are provided in the suture engaging section and a suture passage is formed to interconnect the eyelets to allow a suture to be easily threaded in the suture engaging section from the first eyelet to the second eyelet.
US07713275B2
The present invention provides a medical grasping device including an an elongate control member, an outer sheath, and an actuation section. The elongate control member includes an atraumatic distal tip section, a proximal end portion, and a grasping portion positioned between the proximal end portion and the distal tip section. The outer sheath includes a distal end and a proximal end, and has a passageway that extends between the distal and proximal ends. The elongate control member is slidable within the passageway and its proximal end portion is connected to the actuation section. The actuation section is operated to move the grasping portion in and out of the distal end of the outer sheath and includes a retraction mechanism that biases the actuation section and hence the grasping portion toward a retracted state.
US07713260B2
Catheters having an overmolded hub are disclosed. The overmolded catheter hubs may include one or more access hubs that are overmolded with an overmold material. The catheter hub may also be formed as a single piece from the overmold material. The overmolded construction can result in a stronger bond between the catheter body and the hub and can provide for access hubs having sufficient clarity for the observation of air bubbles in a contained fluid. The disclosed catheter hubs may also demonstrate improved balloon deflation rates when utilized with a catheter body having a distal balloon.
US07713258B2
A device and method facilitates the forming of a skin fold during deployment of a cannula. The device may be a disposable infusion device and the method comprises adhering, to a skin surface, a base member having a port for receiving a cannula, forming a skin fold having skin surfaces sloping away from opposite sides of the base member, driving a cannula through the port of the base member while maintaining the skin fold, and releasing the skin fold. To facilitate the forming of the skin fold, the device comprises a base having a base surface and a flexible layer member. The flexible layer member has a first surface adjacent the base surface and a second surface adapted to be adhered to a patient's skin. The first surface has a first portion adhered to a portion of the base surface and a second portion adherable to the base surface.
US07713256B2
A catheter and introducer needle assembly is provided including a catheter adapter at its proximal end. The catheter adapter includes a side port in fluid communication with the catheter and a septum located in the proximal end of the catheter adapter proximal of the side port. The introducer needle is connected at its proximal end to a needle hub and includes at least one notch in communication with the introducer needle lumen. The notch allows blood to flow into the open distal end of the needle and through the notch into the catheter lumen (specifically, the annular space between the outside of the introducer needle and the inside of the catheter and catheter adapter). Thereafter, the blood can flow through the annular space and then through the side port and extension tube that extends from the catheter adapter.
US07713249B2
A closed system, needleless valve device includes a generally tubular body defining an internal cavity. On the proximal end of the body there is an opening which is preferably sufficiently large to receive an ANSI standard tip of a medical implement. The distal end of the body has a generally tubular skirt. The valve also includes a hollow spike having a closed tip. The spike includes at least one longitudinal 18-gauge hole located distal the tip, and is seated inside the cavity such that the tip is below the proximal end of the body. An annular support cuff is connected to the spike which seals off a portion of the cavity of the body such that an upper cavity containing the tip is defined. The valve also includes a plastic, resilient silicone seal which fills the upper cavity and opening and covers the tip of the spike so as to present a flush surface. An adaptor enables the valve to be attached to a resealable container.
US07713247B2
A closed system, needleless valve device includes a generally tubular body defining an internal cavity. On the proximal end of the body there is an opening which is preferably sufficiently large to receive an ANSI standard tip of a medical implement. The distal end of the body has a generally tubular skirt. The valve also includes a hollow spike having a closed tip. The spike includes at least one longitudinal 18-gauge hole located distal the tip, and is seated inside the cavity such that the tip is below the proximal end of the body. An annular support cuff is connected to the spike which seals off a portion of the cavity of the body such that an upper cavity containing the tip is defined. The valve also includes a plastic, resilient silicone seal which fills the upper cavity and opening and covers the tip of the spike so as to present a flush surface. An adaptor enables the valve to be attached to a resealable container.
US07713244B1
A syringe for parenteral injection of a semi-solid formulation. The syringe includes a hollow element forming a reservoir for the semi-solid product to be injected between a plunger and a needle hub urged in contact with the reservoir end. The plunger comes into direct contact with the hub when the dose contained in the reservoir-forming element has been injected. The element forming a reservoir and the needle are maintained mutually interlocked at the hub through a mount or case receiving the element forming a reservoir.
US07713243B2
A vascular access system for preventing needle sticks includes a needle, a tip shield, and a housing. The needle may be a hypodermic needle or other conventional needle having a needle shaft terminating at a needle tip. The tip shield provides an enclosure defining a chamber. The enclosure includes a closed distal end and a proximal end that slidably engages the needle shaft. The enclosure further includes at least one side wall configured to slidably engage the needle shaft. The housing defines a passageway with respective proximal and distal openings through which the needle extends. The tip shield is also disposed in the passageway and is releasably retained therein. The needle and/or the tip shield is adapted to prevent the needle shaft from being completely withdrawn from the tip shield. The tip shield further secures the needle tip in the chamber upon withdrawal of the needle tip into the chamber.
US07713242B2
The invention relates to a valve arrangement for surgical instruments, particularly trocars, such as those used for minimally invasive operations, e.g. operations involving laparoscopic techniques. The invention also relates to a valve cage for accommodating the valve arrangement. The valve arrangement comprises a valve body made of closed-cell, gas-tight foam material having at least one slot, which passes through the valve body and which is provided for introducing a surgical instrument guided inside the trocar. The valve cage is provided in the form of a housing whose shape and size are adapted to the outer dimensions of the valve body. The housing can be joined to a conventional trocar sleeve in a sealed and detachable manner.
US07713240B2
A modular external infusion device that controls the rate a fluid is infused into an individual's body, which includes a first module and a second module. More particularly, the first module may be a pumping module that delivers a fluid, such as a medication, to a patient while the second module may be a programming module that allows a user to select pump flow commands. The second module is removably attachable to the first module.
US07713232B2
A system for injecting an injectate into patient includes a first pressurizable container for holding the injectate; a patient interface in fluid connection with the first pressurizable container, the patient interface being adapted to pass the injectate into tissue of the patient; a powered injector in operative connection with the first pressurizable container to pressurize the injectate; a controller system in operative connection with powered injector; and a stereotactic localization frame adapted to be placed in operative connection with the patient interface to assist in controlling localization of the patient interface. A system for processing cells (and/or other injectate components) includes a container and a plunger adapted to be slidably positioned within the container. The system includes at least one inlet port through which a fluid can enter the system and at least one effluent port through which an effluent can exit the system. The plunger section forms a sealing engagement with the inner wall of the container such that rearward motion of the plunger is adapted to draw fluid into the system via the inlet and forward motion of the plunger is adapted to force effluent out of the system via the effluent port.
US07713230B2
A breast pump can be configured such that is can be easily dismantled for cleaning and easily re-assembled and is formed such that an operator or operating means thereof do not easily become detached during operation. The breast pump can include a storage container for storing milk, a breast pump main body, and an operator or operating means attached to the breast pump main body for deforming a negative pressure generating member attached to the breast pump main body. The operator can take the form of a lever, and can have an engaged portion that is engaged to an engagement portion on the breast pump main body side and includes an engagement opening formed on one end side of the operator. The engagement opening can include an insertion opening portion that is formed adjacent a bearing portion side and is larger than the outer form of the engagement portion, and a holding opening portion that is coextensive with the insertion opening portion but further toward the tip end side than the insertion opening portion. The holding opening can be smaller than the outer perimeter of the engagement portion.
US07713226B2
Apparatus for use in a dialysis system are disclosed including an apparatus for delivering saline during dialysis treatment, an apparatus for delivering saline to a patient after dialysis treatment has ended, and an apparatus for alerting a patient that dialysis treatment is about to end. In the apparatus for delivering saline during dialysis treatment, a controller is configured to automatically deliver saline in response to a request. In the apparatus for delivering saline to a patient after dialysis treatment has ended, a controller is configured to automatically deliver saline after dialysis treatment has concluded, but before the patient is disconnected in response to a request. In the apparatus for alerting a patient that dialysis treatment is about to end, a controller is configured to monitor a dialysis treatment and activate an alarm when treatment is about to end.
US07713220B2
A multiple mode massage chair is provided for being interchangeably used as a seating support and a massaging platform. Above the conventional components of an advanced chair construction such as a horizontal base with a number of casters for slidably supporting the base over the floor, an upholstered seat bottom and seatback assembled to the base through a telescopic upright stand for a height adjustment from the base, the invention provides pairs of elongated cushion flaps pivotally attached to the seat bottom and seatback for selectively providing an extra cushion to the seated user on the respective seating surfaces. Each flap is shaped to flap on a bi-level pivot action to cover or expose an underlying massage surface of the chair with the assistance of a toggle action in order to facilitate the change of the mode of operation of the chair.
US07713219B2
A portable human body pulsating apparatus has an air pulse generator mounted on a pedestal having wheels to facilitate movement of the apparatus on a surface. The pedestal has an upright piston and cylinder assembly operable to adjust the elevation of the air pulse generator.
US07713218B2
A removable applicator nozzle for use in treating a wound is provided. The removable applicator nozzle includes a nozzle, a valve and a cup. The nozzle includes a proximal portion, a distal opening and a valve interface. The proximal portion of the nozzle is engagable with a portion of a transducer of an ultrasound wound therapy device. The distal opening of the nozzle allows at least a portion of a tip of the transducer to pass therethrough. The valve is engagable with the valve interface of the nozzle and the valve selectively allows fluid to flow therethrough. The cup includes an aperture and a puncturing device. The aperture is engagable with the valve and the puncturing device is able to puncture a bottle that is inserted on the cup. Fluid flows from the bottle, through the aperture and the valve and onto a tip of the transducer. The fluid is then moved to the distal opening of the nozzle by a vacuum effect.
US07713216B2
The present invention provides a medical device for measuring and/or providing cervical dilation including an elongate body defining a proximal end and a distal end, as well as an expandable element coupled to the distal end of the elongate body. An array of movable elements may be disposed circumferentially about the elongate body, where the array of movable elements is movably coupled to the distal end of the elongate body by a plurality of wires. The medical device may further include a measurement mechanism able to determine a radial spacing of the array of movable elements, as well as a dilation indicator in communication with the measurement mechanism. One or more pressure sensors may be coupled to the array of movable elements, whereby a control element is in communication with the pressure sensors. In addition, an inflation source may be included in fluid communication with the expandable element.
US07713208B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an ultrasound image of a subject into which an ultrasound contrast agent mainly composed of microbubbles is injected, comprising a probe configured to transmit/receive an ultrasound wave to/from the subject, a transmission circuit configured to drive the probe to transmit an ultrasound wave while sequentially changing a direction of an ultrasound transmission line, a reception circuit configured to generate reception line data of the number of parallel reception from ultrasound echo signals obtained by one ultrasound wave transmission, a transmission/reception control circuit configured to control the transmission and reception circuits to change the number of parallel reception during a scan sequence for generating a 1-frame ultrasound image, and an image processing unit configured to generate an ultrasound image on the basis of the reception line data.
US07713206B2
Tissue property of a reflector is detected based on plural reception signals outputted from plural ultrasonic transducers by receiving ultrasonic echoes. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe including plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the object to output plural reception signals; and a tissue property image generating unit for generating information on tissue property in a region within the object based on interrelationship among at least one group of reception signals on the region from among the plural reception signals respectively outputted from the plural ultrasonic transducers.
US07713200B1
A time-reversal acoustics system includes a wireless beacon with a piezoelectric element adapted to receive an initial acoustic signal from each of a plurality of transducers combined in a single transmitter and controlled individually by an electronic unit. The initial acoustic signal is transformed by the piezoelectric element into an electromagnetic wave feedback signal and transmitted wirelessly to the receiver connected to the input of the electronic unit. The electronic unit receives the feedback signal and transforms it using the time-reversal principles to generate a driving signal for each transducer. All such driving signals are then sent simultaneously to all transducers to deliver high intensity acoustic energy to the beacon. The invention can be used advantageously to non-invasively recharge implant batteries, control drug eluting from an implant, in an image-guided drug-delivery apparatus, etc.
US07713195B2
Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
US07713192B2
An endoscope system includes, in order to automatically detect a type of optical adapter and to generate to display an excellent image according to an intended purpose by performing an image signal processing control corresponding to the type of the optical adapter, a signal processing circuit for performing various image signal processings on an image signal from an image-pickup element, a plurality of optical adapters each including an image-formation optical system, adapter discriminating section, and LED, the optical adapters being detachably and selectively provided to the distal end of the endoscope section, and an apparatus main body including an image processing section for performing predetermined signal processing on the image signal from the signal processing circuit, an adapter detection section for detecting the adapter discrimination section, and a controller for controlling the whole endoscope system. At least driving control of the LED and various signal processing controls on the image signal obtained by the image-pickup element are performed based on the detection result of the adapter discrimination section by the adapter detection section.
US07713191B2
A balloon controller for an endoscope apparatus which enables an operator to correctly and immediately grasp circumstances relating to an abnormal condition at the time of occurrence of the abnormal condition. The balloon controller controls expansion and shrinkage of each of a first balloon attached to an insertion portion of an endoscope and a second balloon attached to an insertion assist implement, by supplying air to the balloon or drawing air from the balloon. Pressure indicating portions on which the values of pressures in the first and second balloons are displayed are provided in a front surface of a main body of the balloon controller. When an abnormal condition occurs, an error code and the pressure values are alternately displayed on the pressure indicating portions.
US07713190B2
A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, intravenously introducing the catheter into a heart of the patient (e.g., via the vena cava into the right atrium), and creating a puncture within a wall between two chambers (e.g., the left and right atria) of the heart. The method further comprises creating a puncture within a wall between two chambers of the heart, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to advance a working catheter within the guide catheter through the puncture.
US07713189B2
A video endoscope includes a tube fitted at its distal end with an affixed objective lens, a video camera mounted behind the objective lens in the tube, the camera together with an elongated rotation element constituting a swivel unit that is supported both at the distal and proximal end zones in each case by swivel bearing at the tube. The swivel element being rotationally adjustable relative the tube by a swivel drive system. The distal swivel bearing is axially and radially bearing and the proximal swivel bearing is only radially bearing.
US07713187B2
Medical implant delivery devices and systems are disclosed. In general, an exemplary delivery device comprises a shaft and a handle. An exemplary system includes any number of the following: a delivery device, a sling assembly, guide members, and connectors that interconnect the above. Embodiments of all the above components and their combinations are disclosed. Methods of using the above system in trans-obturator approaches are disclosed.
US07713186B2
A device for detecting and influencing the physiological and/or pathological state of the human or animal body, including a housing which has a first housing wall that, in turn, has an outer surface provided for placing against a body to be treated. A rotor is situated inside the housing and is rotationally driven about an axis that is essentially perpendicular to the first housing wall. First magnets are mounted on the rotor, and their magnetic fields are oriented in the same direction that is parallel to the rotation axis. At least one additional magnet is situated essentially coaxial to the rotation axis with a polarity of each being oriented in an opposite direction to the first magnets.
US07713185B2
A free-jet centrifuge for the cleaning of lubricating oil comprising, a housing with a removable cover, a rotor rotatably arranged in the housing and with channels for feeding and removing the lubricating oil. The rotor is of split design with a drive part and a dirt trapping part which can each be flowed through by their own partial lubricating oil flow and which are designed with a torque transmission device which is engageable and disengageable. The dirt trapping part is separable from the drive part. A device is provided to prevent or restrict the axial mobility of the dirt trapping part relative to the drive part, which is ineffective or detachable when the cover is removed. The drive part extends from the bottom towards the top into the dirt trapping part or entirely through it. The drive part comprises all parts serving for the rotatable bearing of the rotor and the drive part is securely positioned against axial removal with an opened cover.
US07713182B2
An exercise device comprises a frame, including a pair of arcuate rails having a central curved portion, a first end, and a second end. The pair of rails are disposed in fixed parallel relation with one another with a first end member interconnecting the first ends of the rails and a second end member interconnecting the second ends of the rails. The exercise device further comprises a platform operatively connected to the frame for supporting a person thereon. The device may be oriented in various orientations including: 1) a rocking orientation wherein the curved portions of the pair of rails abut a surface on which the device is placed such that the device may move in a rocking motion relative to the surface and 2) a stationary orientation wherein the first end member and the second end member abut the surface on which the device is placed such that the device is stationary relative to the surface.
US07713181B1
An exercise device which can be used to exercise the abdominal muscles of a user includes a base to which a lower body exercise portion and an upper body exercise portion are pivotably connected. The portions are hinged to provide versatility and to permit the device to be folded for storage. Wheels are swivably connected to the device and support the device on a support surface for use. The hinges, pivot connections and swivel wheels permit the device to be placed in a wide variety of orientations and positions whereby a wide variety of exercises can be performed.
US07713173B2
An exercise management function providing system and method is disclosed having a shoe with built-in sensors for sensing a user's exercise. User exercise information is measured using sensor values from each of the sensors and the measured user exercise information is transmitted to a mobile terminal. Then, the mobile terminal receives the user exercise information so as to grasp a user's exercise state and quantity of motion, and provides an exercise management function in accordance with the user's exercise state and quantity of motion. Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise program suitable for a user in accordance with a user's quantity of motion so that the user can get exercise suitable for a specific user, and the user can be provided with an exercise program to attain their own desired weight, thereby assisting with health care.
US07713170B2
A shift control method of an automatic transmission that controls a shift from an nth shift speed, achieved by engagement of first and second friction elements, to an (n−3)th shift speed, achieved by engagement of third and fourth friction elements. The method includes releasing the first and second friction elements and engaging the third and fourth friction elements. Release control of the second friction element begins after release control of the first friction element begins. Engagement control of the fourth friction element begins after an engagement control of the third friction element begins.
US07713164B2
In a powertrain for a vehicle that includes an engine, a transmission having an input, a current gear, an input clutch, a target gear and an output for driving a load, and an electric machine for driving the load, a method for performing a gearshift from the current gear to the target gear comprising the steps of opening the input clutch, releasing a drive connection between the current gear and the output, producing a drive connection between the target gear and the output, using the electric machine to produce torque at the load, closing the input clutch; and reducing the torque produced by the electric machine.
US07713162B2
A multi-speed transmission has three planetary gear sets and six torque-transmitting mechanism packaged in various ones of five zones within a transmission cavity. Each planetary gear set has a ring gear member, a sun gear member and a carrier member that rotatably supports a plurality of pinion gears that intermesh with both the sun gear member and the ring gear member. Certain members are continuously connected for common rotation. Specifically, an interconnecting member continuously interconnects for common rotation the carrier member of the first planetary gear set, the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set. Additionally, the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set is grounded to the transmission casing via a radially-extending structural member.
US07713157B2
An alternator system includes an input shaft, a planetary gear assembly, a variable resistance generator, and a control unit. The alternator assembly is structured to produce an output current having a frequency. The planetary gear assembly disposed between, and operatively coupled to, the input shaft and the alternator assembly. The planetary gear assembly has a planet gear carrier body with an outer radial surface having teeth. The variable resistance generator has an external generator shaft with a generator gear. The generator gear is structured to engage the outer radial surface teeth. The control unit structured to detect the frequency of the alternator assembly output current and to alter the resistance of the generator. The control unit is structured to maintain the frequency of the alternator assembly output current within a selected range by increasing or decreasing the resistance of the generator.
US07713148B2
A method, apparatus, and program for computing a path, starting velocity, aim angle, and aim points for directing a putted golf ball from a point on a golf course to another point and incorporating such data into easily read charts or electronic media is provided. The invention also provides a means of determining the initial launch conditions and actual path a putted golf ball traveled on given its starting and ending ball positions.
US07713142B2
A wood-type golf club head is described that includes a body including one or more walls defining an interior cavity and multiple weight ports formed in the body. At least one weight is configured to be retained at least partially within at least one of the weight ports. One or more fins or ribs are secured to each of the weight ports and to another structural member of the golf club head.
US07713128B2
The jukebox for casino gaming machines provides a casino gaming machine that has at least one device for playback of audio, and may include a video display for playback of multimedia files. A separate central server in operable communication with a gaming machine client has access to player account information, as well as music, graphics and themes. The client communicates with a jukebox player. The jukebox player accepts and responds to user commands via a user interface. Earphones and earphone plugs are provided. The earphones and plugs host a debit/credit and player tracking system. The earphones and plugs communicate with an enabling device in the casino to allow a user to experience a selected entertainment program in its entirety while the user is operating the gaming machine.
US07713121B1
A progressive system (local and wide) where a primary and secondary progressive meter is maintained is disclosed. When a progressive win event occurs, there are two payouts: the first is the primary payout and is paid to the gaming machine on which the progressive payout event occurred; the second payout, or secondary progressive, is paid to other players (or game devices) having “active” or “enrolled” status at the time of the primary payout event. The present invention provides a method for automating the “shared” win, including means for a player to determine if they are on an active machine which would allow them to share in a secondary progressive. The progressive prizes may be funded using traditional methods (e.g., percentage of wagers, marketing budget). The progressive prizes may also be funded using expired prizes which have expired or lapsed.
US07713113B2
A coin counter includes a base frame including a support board, a rotation unit including a rotation disk, a connecting unit including a mounting bracket, and a receiving unit including a receiving seat and a protective plate. Thus, the protective plate is located above the rotation disk of the rotation unit to protect the rotation disk of the rotation unit so as to prevent the coins in the receiving seat from directly contacting and hitting the rotation disk of the rotation unit. In addition, the protective plate of the receiving unit has two opposite sides each supported by the side edge of the receiving seat so that the protective plate of the receiving unit is supported by the receiving seat to bear the heavy load of the coins.
US07713112B2
The aim of the present invention is to provide a ceramic whetstone (3) which can accelerate sharpening cutlery smoothly. The ceramic whetstone (3) includes a ceramic stick (30) with high straightness accuracy having a plastic nut (31) at a first end, a plastic handle (32) at a second end. A bump (311) disposed on the inner area of the bottom of the plastic nut (31), a fixed bump (321) disposed inside the hollow plastic handle (32) to seal a second end, a stop plate (322) disposed on a top end of the handle (32) for shielding the area between thumb and index finger of a user, the stick (30) has an axial hole (301) accommodates the plastic nut (31) and the handle (32) fit over to both ends respectively, the bump (311) and the fixed bump (321) fit in the axial hole (301) to resist against the stick (30).
US07713105B2
The present invention relates to a launching device for a flying toy. The launching device facilitates the transition of the flying toy from a resting state to a flying state. The launching device may include elements for holding one or more parts of the flying toy in a retracted position while the flying toy is in a resting state and for releasing the parts when the flying toy launches into a flying state. According to the invention, the launching device includes a launch-assist mechanism that provides a force to facilitate the launch of the flying toy.
US07713090B2
A system of an appliance host with at least a pair of generally parallel elongated interface structures cooperatively defining alternative pairs of locations for removably coupling a portable device to the outer wall and a potable device for use with the appliance. The interface structures may be rails, slots or elongated electrical connectors.
US07713084B1
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system that includes a plug device having a plurality of wires configured to be connected to an electrical distribution circuit. An electrical wiring device includes an input receptacle and at least one electrical element. The input receptacle is configured to receive the plug device to thereby establish electrically a continuous path between the at least one electrical element and the plurality of wires when the plug device is inserted into the input receptacle, the electrical wiring device including no external terminal connection elements.
US07713078B2
An electrical connector for a flat conductive member include a housing; a first terminal including a first fixing arm portion, a first movable arm portion, and a first connecting portion; a second terminal including a second fixing arm portion, a second movable arm portion, and a second connecting portion; and a pressing member for pressing a first pressure receiving portion and a second pressure receiving portion so that the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion press the flat conductive member. The pressing member includes a cam portion having a small radius cam portion and a large radius cam portion. The small radius cam portion contacts with the first pressure receiving portion when the pressing member is situated at the open position. The large radius cam portion presses the first pressure receiving portion and the second pressure receiving portion when the pressing member is situated at the closed position.
US07713075B2
A protrudable connector structure that includes a first frame having a first guiding hole; a second frame having a push button and a second guiding hole that overlaps with the first guiding hole when the push button is pressed; a pin inserted into the first guiding hole and the second guiding hole so that the pin moves along the first and second guiding holes; a connector member coupled to the pin; and a link that presses the pin, wherein when the pin is located in a first locking groove portion of the second guiding hole, the connector member is locked so as not to protrude outside of the housing, and when the pin is located in a second locking groove portion of the second guiding hole, the connector member is locked so as not to be inserted into the housing.
US07713071B2
The invention relates to an electrical earthing nut (1). In the past these have sometimes vibrated loose, with the result that a failsafe safety device has been rendered inoperable. The invention overcomes this problem by providing a nut (1) that has a nut body (2) having an internal thread (4) to receive a threaded shaft and an external perimeter shaped to receive a tensioning device such as a spanner. Body (2) has opposing generally planar faces 5,6. Threaded apertures (7A, 7B, 7C) are p nut body to receive a bolt (8A) to secure an earth connector (8B) to the nut body (2) and grub screws (8C, 8D). F 9B, 9C, 9D) are provided on planar face (5) to scrape or cut into a surface against which the nut is to abut. Earthing used with a cable gland.
US07713068B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a scalable, composite, reconfigurable backplane. The backplane is made up of one or more blade aggregation modules which provide switching for attached devices. The blade aggregation module connects to transition cards that then connect with blade modules. The blade aggregation module provides connectivity to the connected modules, which may connect to a second blade aggregation module through the transition cards. The transition cards may additionally connect with unit aggregation modules to connect rows of blade modules together. Transition cards can also provide outside connectivity. The backplane, made up of blade aggregation modules, transition cards, and unit aggregation modules, is highly scalable and versatile, and also provides an unblocked airflow path to facilitate cooling the blades.
US07713067B1
A connector adapted for edge mounting on a circuit board employs a conductive shell with at least one insulating spacer mounted therein. A center contact is mounted in the spacer. The proximal end of the shell has an extension adapted to extend proximally and attach to the circuit board. The center contact and the extension are spaced to straddle the circuit board. The extension is disposed along most of its length entirely to the outside of a reference plane that is parallel to and spaced from the center contact. The extension for most of its length extends proximally beyond any portion of the shell located to the inside of the reference plane. A sleeve lining the shell is polished to avoid reflections of electromagnetic energy passing through the shell. A C-shaped clip is attached to the outside of the extension and then pressed into holes on the circuit board while compressing the clip to squeeze the extension.
US07713059B2
The invention is an instrument for cleaning and/or shaping and/or widening a channel that exists in or through a solid object. The design of the instrument the superelastic and shape memory properties of the material from which it is made, allow the inner volume enclosed by the instrument, its outer contour, or both to change as a result of the forces exerted upon it while working, thereby shaping the instrument to the three-dimensional contour of the channel. A preferred embodiment of the instrument is an endodontic file for use in the cleaning, shaping, and widening stages of a root canal procedure.
US07713056B2
A catalytic combustor is configured to accelerate the combustion processing of anode off gas in the combustor to reduce the amount of unburned hydrogen discharged to the outside of the combustor. Anode off gas and cathode off gas discharged from the fuel cell are fed into the catalytic combustor and combusted with a catalyst. Ventilation air is supplied from inside of the fuel cell is also supplied to the catalytic combustor. A portion of the catalytic combustor located upstream of the catalyst inside is divided into an upper flow path and a lower flow path by a partitioning plate and a gas flow passage is provided upstream of the upper and lower flow paths. The cathode off gas is supplied to the gas flow passage.
US07713055B2
A blow molded container comprises a transfer ring open to the container body and characterized by a plurality of arcuate recesses in the sidewall thereof disposed to reduce deformation at the junction of the top transfer ring surface and container neck resulting from compressive forces acting on the neck along the longitudinal axis of the container. Advantageously an elongated dome protrudes outwardly from each sidewall recess, each dome being open to the interior of the container. A blow mold assembly for extrusion blow molding of a container according to the invention comprises first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component. Advantageously each mating mold component comprises a removable insert comprising the molding surfaces defining the neck and transfer ring of the container.
US07713045B2
An extrusion-based injection molding system is designed for use in food processing applications. Interior surfaces, such as the barrel exit line and/or fill line, of the system may be coated with a friction-reducing agent.
US07713043B2
An apparatus for and a method of feeding powders to a subsequent processing step. In particular, the apparatus includes a first hopper, a first metering brush feed, an intermediate chamber, a second distribution brush, a level sensor, and a supply hopper to deliver powder to a pair of rollers. In one embodiment, the hopper is fitted to the roller diameter to produce a uniform, ribbon or free-standing sheets suitable for air-breathing battery and fuel cell electrodes.
US07713042B1
A rotary engine configured to use compressed air or high pressure steam to produce power. It has a casing with two peripheral exhaust ports each adjacent to a flattened area, a rotor having three slotted pistons, and a center valve with two opposed inlet ports that provide high pressure steam or compressed air to the pistons. Each rotor revolution produces three power strokes. Furthermore, the volume of air used for a single cycle is reduced, as a result of the air traveling through its pistons. Also, the engine stops when the vehicle it powers is at rest, and a spring inside each piston causes its angled tip to contact the rotary chamber upon start up. In addition, it is inexpensive to manufacture, as there is not much tooling needed to make the rotary engine, and it has only four moving parts, its rotor and the three pistons attached to it.
US07713036B2
A liquid pumping apparatus comprising a rotor housing, a rotor having at least one roller, to be rotated by a prime mover, an inner periphery wall of the rotor housing, a flexible tube to be inserted into a gap formed between the rotor and the inner periphery wall and squeezed when the rotor is rotated so as to transfer a liquid fed into the tube, and a deformable guide for guiding the flexible tube in a moving path of the roller. At least one portion of the inner periphery wall is movable so as to approach or separate from the rotor.
US07713027B2
A gas turbine engine is provided with an airfoil component that is disclosed as a turbine blade. Internal cooling passages circulate air within the blade. An impingement rib separates a cooling air channel from a pedestal array, and includes cross-over holes to meter the flow of air into the pedestal array. A lower end of the impingement rib is split to reduce stress concentrations between the impingement rib and a platform. Further, the pedestals adjacent to the lower end of the impingement rib are formed to be stubs, which do not extend entirely across a width of the blade. The disclosed structure reduces the stress concentration at an area where the impingement rib meets the platform.
US07713018B2
A bottom board separator can remove the bottom board from a stack of lumber moving at process speed. The bottom board separator carries stacks of lumber on a first set of stack conveyors that are spaced apart along a path. Abutment surfaces push the bottom board transversely out from under the stack. A second set of stack conveyors follow the abutment surface and support the remaining part of the stack. Movable guides keep the remaining part of the stack traveling in the process direction.
US07713017B2
A mail stack unloading device for use in a mail stacker to unload a stack of mail pieces in the mail stacker. The mail stacker has a pair of stack supports, located at a small angle from a vertical line, for supporting the mail stack as the mail pieces enter the mail stacker along a stacking path when the stack supports are in a stacking position. The stacker also has a platform or tongue connected to the stack supports such that the platform is positioned beneath the mail stack below the stacking path. During unloading, the platform is caused to move upward beyond the stacking path in order to engage with the stack, allowing the stack to be lifted. Then the stack supports are caused to forward beyond the vertical line in order to tip the lifted stack into a container.
US07713013B2
A device for supporting an article on a structure. The support device includes an elongate body with a head at one end, a neck, a shoulder flange, and an elongate threaded shank with threads extending therefrom. The head and/or neck may be arranged to engage the article, and the shoulder flange has a surface for engaging a corresponding surface of the structure. The elongate shank portion anchors the support device at a target site on the structure and tapers from a greatest diameter proximate to the shoulder flange to a pointed end. The initial taper is at a lesser angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body to a point where the angle increases, before which the threads may terminate.
US07713004B2
A tool for chip removing machining, including a long narrow basic body having an envelope surface which is concentric with a center axis, and two opposite ends, and a replaceable loose top which is connected to the basic body via a first coupling that includes a first seating formed in one end of the basic body and a first male element formed in one end of the loose top. The basic body includes a primary part body made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity, and a secondary part body which includes the first seating and is made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity which is lower than the first modulus of elasticity. The two part bodies of the basic body are interconnected via a second coupling which includes a second seating in the secondary part body as well as a second male element that is formed on the primary part body and has one or more precision machined flank surfaces that are arranged to apply, together with one or more co-operating and precision machined flank surfaces of the second seating, joining axial forces to the part bodies by turning the part bodies in relation to each other.
US07713003B2
The ground anchors of the type which are attached to cables, rods and the like, which are driven into the ground and tilted transversely of the hole by tensioning the cable are provided. A ground anchor including a central hollow tubular body portion extending substantially along the length of the anchor and a pair of laterally projecting wings extending from opposing sides of the body portion, wherein the wings are bent at an angle to the horizontal plane, and a portion of an edge of each wing is bent at an angle to the plane of the wing.
US07713001B1
The pipe extractor includes a main frame supported by wheels mounted on the main frame. The wheels are vertically movable, relative to the main frame, by a hydraulic cylinder. An extractor frame is pivotally attached to the main frame for pivotal movement about an extractor axis. A shank has an upper end attached to the extractor frame. A shoe with a pipe through passage is connected to a lower end of the shank. A self leveling linkage pivots the extractor frame about the extractor axis in response vertical movement of the wheels. A hitch beam is pivotally attached to the main frame. Pipe contacts the pipe through passage in the shoe and steers the main frame. A lister is mounted on the hitch beam. A ramp assembly and rear plow are pivotally connected to the shoe.
US07712994B2
A connecting assembly between a shaft journal which is axially secured, and a constant velocity universal joint whose inner joint part is engaged by the shaft journal in a rotationally fast way, wherein there is provided a threaded sleeve which is held so as to be axially secured and freely rotatable relative to the inner joint part and which comprises a thread which can be threaded on to a counter thread on the shaft journal.
US07712988B2
A sheet feed tray including a regulating wall member being assembled in a displaceable manner with a placing tray, which includes a first tray side engagement portion, and regulating a position of a recording medium such that a wall portion of the regulating wall member contacts with the end portion of the recording medium, a first engagement member being disposed in the regulating wall member and including a first regulating wall member side engagement portion, the first regulating wall member engaging with the first tray side engagement portion regulates a displacement of the regulating wall member, an elastic unit being elastically deformable and generating a force for holding an engaging state between the first tray side engagement portion and the first regulating wall member side engagement portion, an elastic deformation regulating unit regulating a deformation amount of the elastic unit, and releasing operation unit releasing the engaging state.
US07712987B2
A sheet holding structure comprises a container for holding fanfold paper layered by being alternately folded every predetermined length as a sheet. The container has upper and lower sections that are fixed to each other so as to be non-movable relative one another and that collectively form an accommodation portion that accommodates the fanfold paper. The lower section of the container has an inner wall surface formed in a concave shape along a lengthwise direction of the fanfold paper so that the fanfold paper curves in an inward direction and exerts an expanding force acting, at least in part, against the self-weight of the fanfold paper and in a direction opposite to the inward direction.
US07712981B2
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, provided is an extremely compact, simple, and cost-effective approach for aligning optical fibers in an optical fiber fusion splicer. The basis of this alignment method is an “S”-Curve Piezo Bending Actuator. The device comprises a thin strip of elastically flexible material (such as spring steel, beryllium copper, or fiber reinforced polymer) that is coated in four areas with a piezoelectric material (such as barium titanate or other known compounds).
US07712978B2
The optical module comprises a device mounted with a photoelectric element and a receptacle to optically connect this device and an optical fiber is provided. The receptacle comprises a device holder at its one end, allows the device holder to be fitted to the top end side of the device, and fixed and held through the interposition of the ultraviolet curing resin. The device holder comprises a window area relatively large in an amount of ultraviolet transmission dispersedly arranged on the entire periphery of the fitted portion with the device.
US07712977B2
An optical resonator includes a waveguide (12) formed by using an incidence side reflection film (93) and an emission side reflection film (94) arranged in parallel with each other and adapted to resonate light entering it by way of the incidence side reflection film (93) and adapted to propagate light formed and resonated so as to run through from the incidence side reflection (93) to the emission side reflection film (94), a substrate (11) for forming the optical waveguide (12) on the top surface thereof and a first protection member (86) and a second protection member (87) corresponding to the material of the substrate (11) provided at an upper part of the waveguide (12) so as to make at least an end facet of each of the members form a plane (91) or (92) identical with the first end facet (84) or the second end facet (85), whichever appropriate, of the substrate (11) including the light incidence end or the light emission end, whichever appropriate, of the optical waveguide (11) and the incidence side reflection film (93) and the emission side reflection film (94) are laid respectively on the formed planes (91), (92).
US07712975B2
A photoelectric coupling assembly and manufacturing method thereof enabling a three dimensional electrical wiring pattern is provided. The assembly includes a photoelectric conversion unit equipped with a photoelectric conversion element and a molded article. The molded article has a hole configured and arranged to have an optical fiber inserted there-through such that a distal end of the fiber faces an active layer of the conversion element, a front surface on which the conversion unit is mounted, and a side surface being contiguous to the front surface. The lead being insert molded into the molded article has a first surface being exposed at the front surface and electrically connected to the conversion element, a second surface being exposed at the side surface, and an engaging portion having a width increasing in a direction away from the front surface. At least a portion of the engaging portion is contained inside the resin forming the molded article.
US07712964B2
A sliding bearing having excellent initial conformability and seizure resistance as well as high durability and heat resistance is provided. A sliding bearing comprising a coating layer containing a resin and a solid lubricant formed on a bearing alloy layer, characterized in that the resin of said coating layer is a resin having a glass transition temperature of from 150° C. to 250° C. which has a great elongation at high temperatures.
US07712943B2
An exemplary backlight module includes a light source, a light guide panel, and a frame. The light source includes a substrate, blocks disposed on the substrate and spaced from each other, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) each including a first electrode, a second electrode, a chip and a bonding wire. The first and second electrodes are arranged on the substrate between two blocks, and are electrically connected to each other via the chip and the bonding wire. The light guide panel transforms linear light to planar light. The frame receives the light source. Each of two adjacent corners of the frame are step-shaped or wedge-shaped, with two ends of the light source correspondingly cut into step or wedge shapes to engage the frame.
US07712941B2
A connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes a housing having at least a socket, an electronic device disposed in the housing, a protection member disposed on a side of the housing, a light emitting element disposed on the protection member, a light pipe disposed on the housing for guiding light from the light emitting element, a shield surrounding the protection member and the light emitting element, and a cover encompassing the light pipe, the shield, and the light emitting element.
US07712931B1
An optical element is configured for use in conjunction with a directional light source such as an LED to form an illuminator. The optical element includes a light entry surface, a reflector and an emission surface. Each of the light entry, reflector and emission surfaces are surfaces of revolution defined by revolving straight or curved lines about an axis of revolution. The light entry, reflector and emission surfaces are configured to produce a radiation pattern from the illuminator that is collimated in a first direction and divergent or swept in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US07712928B2
A street illuminating device includes a retaining frame, a light source module, and a heat dissipating module. The light source module includes a printed circuit board retained in the retaining frame, a number of solid state lighting elements, and a light reflecting plate. The printed circuit board has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The solid state lighting elements are arranged on the first surface of the printed circuit board. The light reflecting plate includes a number of through holes with inner reflecting surfaces. The light reflecting plate is disposed on the first surface of the printed circuit board with the solid state lighting elements received in the respective through holes. The heat dissipating module is in thermal contact with the second surface of the printed circuit board.
US07712917B2
Methods of controlling a backlight unit including a plurality of solid state light emitting devices include receiving a request to set a color point of the backlight unit at a requested color point, and determining if the requested color point is within an acceptable range. In response to the requested color point being outside the acceptable range, a modified color point is selected in response to the requested color point, and a color point of the backlight unit is set at the modified color point. Corresponding solid state lighting units are also disclosed.
US07712912B2
A backlight module includes a light guide plate, at least one mixed light apparatus, a first light source and a second light source. The light guide plate includes a body including at least one recess provided at a bottom surface thereof. The mixed light apparatus is disposed partly in or adjacent to the recess. The mixed light apparatus includes a body, a first light reflecting element and a second light reflecting element. The body of the mixed light apparatus has a light emitting surface. Each of the light reflecting elements extends from the light emitting surface. Each of the light reflecting elements has an emanating point and a focal point. The emanating points overlap at the light emitting surface. One of the light sources is disposed at one of the focal points.
US07712910B2
Backlighting methods and apparatuses to backlight a device. The backlighting apparatus includes a flexible light guide, a light source, and a housing. The light source is disposed adjacent to a transmission interface of the flexible light guide to illuminate the flexible light guide. The housing at least partially encloses the flexible light guide and the light source. A surface area of the flexible light guide is visible through the housing. By using a flexible light guide to backlight the device, the size of the device is reduced compared to conventional devices. Alternatively, the device may accommodate additional components. Other advantages also may be achieved.
US07712909B2
A rotating lamp comprises a translucent globe, a shaft portion, arranged in the globe, made of a material containing metal, an LED device provided on the shaft portion, a rotatable support member rotatably set along the outer peripheral direction of the shaft portion, a reflecting mirror supported by the rotatable support member for reflecting light received from the LED device, a driving portion rotating/driving the rotatable support member and a heat radiating portion provided on the shaft portion. Thus, heat generated in LED devices can be discharged and a problem resulting from heat can be solved.
US07712907B2
A ring flash adapter of the flash uses a clamping device attached to the external flash of the camera, and using the lightguide (1) the, light can be transmitted from the flash into circular body. The lightguide has a flat circle and a head with an incidence surface and a reflecting surface. The lightguide also has an even number of separate, parallel, inter-connected shaped belt segments inserted in the head. The foreside of the circle forms an emission surface; the rear side is provided with a system of “V” shaped teeth to reflect light on the emission surface.
US07712903B2
A remote instruction system includes a control portion. The control portion transmits an image captured by an image capturing portion provided for capturing the image of a subject to a remote terminal, and controls a projection portion to project an annotation image onto the subject according to an instruction issued from the remote terminal on the basis of the image captured. The control portion measures a reflection characteristic of a surface of the subject on the basis of the image captured, and converts a color of the annotation image to be projected onto the subject on the basis of a comparison result between the color of the annotation image instructed by the remote terminal and the reflection characteristic of the surface of the subject to project the annotation image onto the subject.
US07712893B2
The base, on which the main body of a jewel is mounted, and the rear surface magnet are connected to the chain part. By this jewelry article for eyeglasses being mounted on a lens of the pair of eyeglasses, even if the main body of a jewel and the rear surface magnet fall because of their positioning difference on the lens occurred by some contacts to the main body of the jewel, the base and the rear surface magnet are in a state of being hanged down on an eyeglass frame through the chain part joined to the eyeglass frame by the joining part for an eyeglass frame.
US07712874B2
An electrostatic suction type fluid discharge device supplies a drive voltage from a power source between a nozzle and an insulating substrate, so as to supply an electric charge to a discharge material supplied into the nozzle. As a result, the discharge material is discharged from the nozzle hole onto the insulating substrate. The diameter of the hole of the nozzle falls within the range between φ0.01 μm and φ25 μm, the power source outputs, as the drive voltage, a bipolar pulse voltage that alternates between positive and negative and has a frequency of not less than 1 Hz.
US07712871B2
An embodiment relates generally to a method of ejecting ink. The method includes providing a continuous stream of ink from a pressurized fluid chamber and activating a drive signal to activate a micro-electrostatic mechanical system (MEMS) membrane. The method also includes stably breaking up the jet stream into uniform droplets in response to deflecting the MEMS membrane to perturb the continuous stream of ink.
US07712870B2
To provide an ink jet recording head, by which a recording operation with a high recording quality can be performed without causing deformation or breakage of a recording element substrate and the manufacture cost is reduced, a filling groove filled with sealant for protecting a recording element substrate from ink includes a salient or divider.
US07712857B2
A printing apparatus for printing on a medium to be printed includes an ink ejection section for intermittently ejecting ink while moving, wherein the printing apparatus detects a distance from the ink ejection section to the medium to be printed, and controls a timing of intermittent ejection of the ink from the ink ejection section based on the distance that has been detected. With such a printing apparatus, the timing at which ink is ejected can be controlled taking into account the distance from the ink ejection section to the medium to be printed.
US07712848B1
A storage device includes a base bounding a storage space and an opening into the storage space, a first panel pivotally attached to the base and a second panel pivotally attached to the first panel. The first and second panels pivot between a stored position including the first panel positioned against the base and the second panel positioned against the first panel, and a closed position including the first panel first panel positioned against the top of the base and the second panel received against the base overlying the opening into the storage space enclosing the storage space.
US07712847B1
A laboratory station has rear legs and front legs which supports a table top. Utilities can be run through the rear legs and superior connections over prior art techniques are believe to be provided with preferred embodiments.
US07712837B2
The present invention concerns a padding for a cushion (1), such as a cushion for a seat, comprising foam material (100), with modified resilience provided by recesses (101), in at least one section of the cushion, the size and/or density of the recesses being different in adjacent sections providing a varying softness or collapsibility in the foam material (100) in one surface direction of the cushion, wherein the recesses (101) may be non-transient and a frame (410) may be completely or partly embedded in the foam. The invention also concerns a seat cushion or furniture comprising such padding and the method for producing such padding.
US07712836B2
A vehicle seat includes a height-adjustable seat frame which has at least two seat frame parts which can be moved relative to one another and at least one gas spring arranged between the seat frame parts for height adjustment purposes. The seat includes a control device that acts upon the gas spring and includes a valve device attached to a first seat frame part and has control valves for actuating gas flows for the gas spring. A control link on a second frame part actuates the control valves, so that a predefinable height of the vehicle seat is ensured regardless of a weight load on the vehicle seat. Movement of the control link relative to the second seat frame part brings about a height adjustment of the vehicle seat.
US07712833B2
A structure intends to arrange the appearance of furniture at a connecting portion between a first member having stiffness and a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness without forming the connecting portion in an unnaturally large diameter. More specifically, the present invention provides a structure for connecting members comprising: a first member having stiffness; a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness; and a spring member in which an end portion thereof is connected to the first member and other end portion thereof is connected to the second member so as to accumulate a reaction force by elastic deformation, wherein the spring member is formed into a frame-like shape extending along the first and second members.
US07712828B2
The device includes a tubular fitting (6) that is part of a bicycle frame and able to accommodate a saddle post (7), elements (19,20) for locking the saddle post (7) in rotation, and members (8) for holding the saddle post (7) in a longitudinal position that is determined relative to the tubular fitting (6). The holding members comprise a stop surface (7a) that is provided on the saddle post (7) and able to work with a stop (8) that is provided on the fitting (6) so as to delimit the insertion length of the saddle post (7) in the latter. The holding members also include at least one annular crosspiece (9, 10) that can be arranged between the stop surface and the stop so as to allow the adjustment of the insertion length.
US07712825B2
The invention relates to a folding top for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one first and at least one second structural element (6, 7), which are covered by a flexible roof panel (8). Said structural elements (6, 7) are designed to be mounted and detached transversally to the direction of the vehicle by means of a roof opening (2) and once attached, are fixed at the front to the windscreen frame (3) and at the rear to a bow (4) that spans the width of the vehicle. The flat structural elements (6, 7) are interconnected by means of guide devices (14, 15) and can be displaced in relation to one another transversally to the direction of the vehicle by means of said devices (14, 15).
US07712806B2
A center robot is fixed approximately in a central portion of a process part. A coating unit, a drying unit, a transfer unit, a peeling unit, a film supplying unit and a reversing unit are arranged around the center robot. The center robot comprises a hand-for-substrate and a hand-for-film which are allowed to directly access the respective units. Within a process part, the center robot transports a sheet film and/or a substrate between the coating unit, the drying unit, the transfer unit and the film supplying unit, and a thin film is formed on the substrate using the sheet film.
US07712798B2
A locking handle which is in particular provided for a motor vehicle comprises a star handle which is rotatably supported around an axle and to which one or more locking rods are fastened. An improved locking handle of this type comprises a longitudinally displaceably guided slide actuator with an actuator part. An engagement part is provided at the star handle.
US07712795B2
In the case of a pipe connection for connecting a first pipe end (1) to a second pipe end (6), with a sealing ring (13) sealing the intermediate space between the pipe ends (1, 6), and a tensible pipe clamp (14) which fits over the pipe ends (1, 6) and in which a toothed anchoring ring (9) is mounted, said anchoring ring pressing the toothed inside (10) of the anchoring ring (9) against the surface of an associated pipe end (6) when the pipe clamp (14) is tightened, simplified handling and a high compressive strength are achieved in that the first pipe end (1) is widened in a sleeve-shaped manner such that the second pipe end (6) can be pushed into the widened portion (2), in that the pipe clamp (14) has an internal contour which fits over the sleeve-shaped widened portion (2) of the first pipe end (1) in a form-fitting manner counter to a pull-out direction (A1) for releasing the pipe ends (1, 6) from each other, and in that the anchoring ring (9) is positioned to bear only against the second pipe end (6).
US07712784B2
Each ECU in a system configuration based on a motorized seatbelt retractor having an ECU combined with a motor shortens the harness length along which many currents flow as much as possible. A main ECU and a subsidiary ECU each have functions corresponding to those are provided to a control unit for controlling a motor for a motorized seatbelt retractor. The main ECU determines output start conditions and transmits commands, and the subsidiary ECU autonomously performs detailed motor current control and the like.
US07712778B2
A new type of inflator that may be used to inflate an airbag is disclosed. The inflator will have a longitudinal axis, a first chamber, and a filter. The filter may be positioned outside of the first chamber. A first quantity of gas generant is positioned within the first chamber. A first strainer having a plurality of gas flow holes is also positioned within the first chamber. The first quantity of gas generant is located exterior of the strainer. Upon combustion of the first quantity of gas generant produces a first quantity of gas that flows towards the longitudinal axis while passing through the gas flow holes, enters the filter, and then flows away from the longitudinal axis while passing through the filter.
US07712776B2
A side-impact control system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes an adaptive restraint (15). A side sensor (30) is configured to detect an object, in a restraint dependent detection zone (60) along a side (13) of the vehicle (12), and generates an object detection signal. A controller (16) determines an activation time for and a deployment status of the adaptive restraint (15), and activates the adaptive restraint (15) before or after contact between the object and the side (13).
US07712771B2
An airbag module has a module housing that has an airbag deployment opening with a predetermined opening dimension. An airbag is arranged folded in the module housing, the airbag having a first wall and a second wall situated opposite from the first wall. At least one holding means is arranged in the airbag. The at least one holding means is arranged in the unfolded airbag in the region of the airbag deployment opening and is attached on the airbag but not attached to the module housing. The holding means joins the first and second walls in the region of the airbag deployment opening and limits a distance between the walls in the region of the airbag deployment opening.
US07712764B2
A draw pin hitch has a lower jaw, an upper jaw positioned above the lower jaw, and a draw pin receivable generally vertically in apertures in the upper and lower jaws for coupling elements to the hitch between the jaws. The hitch has a pin holding means which is moveable between a “pin raised” position in which the pin is supported by the pin holding means in the aperture of the upper jaw but does not project between the jaws, and a “pin lowered” position in which the holding means allows the pin to extend through both apertures between the jaws. The pin holding means at least partially encircles at least one of the jaws and is moveable between the “pin raised” and “pin lowered” positions by contact of an implement to be coupled to the hitch with a portion of the holding means. When in the “pin raised” position the holding means at least partially extends across the lower end of the aperture in the upper jaw.
US07712751B2
An improved lawn mower sulky comprises platform 10, hitch support arm 20, first stub axle 40, first axle A-frame 41, first damper assembly 60, second stub axle 70, second axle A-frame 71, and second damper assembly 80.
US07712742B1
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a game of chance is provided. Cards for use in the game of chance have rows and columns that define “boxes having numbers contained in the boxes. A random number generator generates an initial number of numbers, preferably two. The initial numbers correspond to the numbers contained in the boxes, thus representing a numerical spread based on the position the numbers correspond to on the card. Depending on the numerical spread based on the position the numbers correspond to on the card, either a payoff is determined, a push is called or at least an addition number is generated. If the additional number is generated, either a payoff is determined or a push is called.
US07712740B2
The present invention includes a damping device for a media feed mechanism for a peripheral device having a media feedpath having a feed shaft and a downstream exit shaft. In one form a damping hub is mounted on said exit shaft, a resilient biasing member extending between the damping hub and the feed shaft to create a damping force on the damping hub. In another embodiment damping is provided by a brake structure engaging said damping hub. In yet another embodiment, a brake structure is pivotably mounted.
US07712739B2
A recording paper conveying apparatus is disclosed. The recording paper conveying apparatus includes a conveying part for conveying a recording paper, the conveying part including a first encoder, and a driving part for driving the conveying part, the driving part including a second encoder, wherein the first and second encoders have different resolutions.
US07712729B2
A vaporizing device which can vaporize fuel stably includes: a liquid absorbing member to allow liquid to move from one end portion to the other end portion of the liquid absorbing member under influence of a capillary action; and a heater to heat a side of the other end portion of the liquid absorbing member to vaporize the liquid.
US07712728B2
The fine distributor for a liquid includes a primary distribution stage that has a plurality of outlet openings and a secondary distribution stage that has distribution gutters below the primary distribution stage. A mesh structure leads from the primary to the secondary distribution stage to further distribute the descending liquid laterally. One outlet opening or a group of outlet openings in the primary stage are associated with each guide mens and also a distribution gutter is associated with each guide means. Each guide means, by means of which liquid (23) can be directed from the at least one associated outlet opening to the secondary distribution stage, extends from the primary distribution stage to the associated distribution gutter and also through it and forms a drip edge (45) for the liquid supplied below the distribution gutter. Each guide means has at least partially a three-dimensional structuring and also a regular perforation. Each distribution stage is formed as a stagnation space in which a distribution of the liquid takes place with the use of a throttle means (25) and on the basis of a hydrodynamic balance.
US07712725B2
A drain valve assembly having a stem which can be inserted into a crankcase or other fluid reservoir, wherein the stem is connected to a housing which encloses a sealing barrel movably secured and sealed in the connected stem and housing, and wherein the sealing barrel can be manipulated in a single direction from the exterior of the assembly to open or close a fluid passage through the assembly. An end cap may also be provided tethered to the housing for sealing off the fluid passage. Selected movement of the sealing barrel in the connected stem and housing may also be used to control the volume and flow of fluid through the fluid passage.
US07712710B2
A stand including a column that is mounted on a base section and that has at least one profiled element. A head unit which includes a pivoting element that can be tilted about a horizontal pivoting axis and can be clamped in a desired tilted position is fixed to the upper end section of the column and an upper face of the pivoting element has a receiving element. This invention provides a stable inclined position by a simple manipulation. To achieve this, the head unit includes a bolt which extends into a longitudinal cavity of the profiled element and is fixed relative to the upper end section and in which the pivoting element is mounted.
US07712691B2
A hogging, sometimes known as reducing, apparatus for reducing wood waste into hog fuel, though some embodiments may also be used for reducing other materials including demolition timber, demolition masonry, mild steel scrap (thin sections), soft metal scrap, recycled cans, recycled glass, recycled plastic, soft rocks, occasionally hard rocks, recycled roading and asphalt, old tyres, and certain green garden waste. The apparatus includes a drum (40) inclined to the horizontal and into which raw material can be fed at its upper end. Rotation of the drum (40) assists driving raw material towards reducing elements (45) positioned at an angle near its (40) lower end. Screening apertures (41) allow sufficiently comminuted material to pass therethrough for removal. Optional features include internal agitators (60) for improving processing and screening, assisted drying of raw material by motor exhaust (71), and initial pre-screening of foreign material.
US07712689B2
A shredder is disclosed. The shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder mechanism enables the at least one article to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements. The motor is operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is operable to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is at least equal to a predetermined maximum thickness.
US07712687B2
An electrostatic spray device that maintains a consistent charge-to-mass ratio in order to maintain a consistent target spray quality is disclosed. During steady state conditions, the high voltage power supply adjusts the output voltage level in response to changing environmental and/or operating conditions. During transient conditions such as start-up, shut-down and changing flow rate conditions, the high voltage power supply ensures that the charge-to-mass ratio is maintained. During, start-up, for example, the high voltage power supply charges the high voltage electrode to a predetermined voltage level before the product is delivered to the charging location. During shut-down, the product delivery is stopped before the high voltage power supply shuts off power to the high voltage electrode, and during changes in product flow rate, the voltage level of the high voltage electrode is adjusted to maintain a consistent charge-to-mass ratio. The present invention also prevents afterspray by discharging the stored charge remaining in storage elements of the high voltage power supply.
US07712668B2
The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media.
US07712664B2
A 2-dimensional code reading apparatus includes a code position detector receiving an input image that is formed by optically reading 2-dimensional codes, and extracting a 2-dimensional codes from the input image. A data acquisition unit acquires identification information of a document page and positional information of the 2-dimensional codes on the document page, from the 2-dimensional codes. A data decoder performs decoding of the identification information and the positional information. The code position detector is provided with a code frame detector detecting a code frame which defines a fixed region of the 2-dimensional codes, and determining a dot of a target pixel as being a corner dot of the code frame.
US07712656B2
A transaction apparatus (10) includes a multifunction card (12) and a portable terminal (14). The multifunction card includes and a programmable memory (18). The programmable memory is used to store indicia corresponding to account data from a plurality of conventional magnetic stripe cards. The programmable memory further includes signature data representative of user-identifying signature. The signature data can comprise a scanned user-identifying written signature. A user can operate the apparatus to select one of the accounts stored in memory. The user can also use the apparatus to transmit the signature data via wireless communication during a transaction. The transmitted signature data can be compared to an actual user signature written on an electronic signature pad for a determination of correspondence.
US07712642B2
A glove donning and removal apparatus for donning, a glove sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower feed sheets is advanced towards a glove dispensing opening. Grabber arms expand the glove hand opening to enable a user to easily insert a hand into the hand opening. For removal, secondary top and bottom feed rolls having adhesively coated top and bottom feed sheets are moved towards a glove removal opening. The adhesive-coated top and bottom feed sheets cooperate to strip a glove from a user's hand when the hand is placed on a glove removal surface in the glove removal opening.
US07712626B2
A food container formed from plastic, can be loaded with food and then closed by a clerk, and thereafter cannot be opened without tearing apart first sides (24, 26) of the base (12) and lid (16). The container is formed by a single sheet of plastic that forms a base and lid with second sides (20, 22) that are latched together and with adjacent first sides that are joined by a joint line (30) in the plastic that is creased and that has slits (40). At the joint line, the lid has a projecting lid tab (32) and the base has a projecting base tab (36). A person grasps both tabs, and lifts only the lid tab to tear apart the first sides of the base and lid along the joint line (30). Thereafter, the lid can be easily closed and reopened on the base.
US07712625B2
A cooling coaster device and method for supporting and keeping a cold beverage container cool are provided. The cooling coaster device can include a relatively short, cup-shaped body including a closed bottom and a cylindrical sidewall forming an opening at an end thereof. A sealing ring gasket is integrally formed with the cylindrical sidewall in a vicinity of the opening. The sealing ring gasket can form a narrowest portion of the cup-shaped body and can be capable of forming a water and gas-tight seal when a beverage container is inserted into the cup-shaped body. The cooling coaster device can include a support extending into an interior of the cup-shaped body and forms a stop surface arranged a set distance from the closed bottom. The cooling coaster can be formed as an integral, one-piece structure and can keep the cold beverage container cool while not concealing its labeling and preventing the formation of a condensation ring.
US07712615B2
A support slide assembly for a cable management arm is coupled with two slide assemblies. Two ends of the cable management arm are connected to one of the two slide assemblies. The support slide assembly includes a sliding member provided between the two ends of the cable management arm and sustained by the support slide assembly to travel in relation to the support slide assembly. Two ends of the support slide assembly respectively connected to the two slide assemblies. The support slide assembly includes a first rod and a second rod sliding into each other to become one retractable piece, allowing change of its total length. The two rods of the support slide assembly each is pivoted to a sliding block.
US07712612B2
The invention relates to a fluid filter including a filter socket with a mounting flange that can, in a sealing manner, be connected to a companion flange on an associated apparatus, wherein at least one fluid duct for supplying fluid to be filtered and one fluid duct for discharging filtered fluid extends through the flange connection, wherein, in the filter socket, at least one section of at least one fluid duct can be closed off against the companion flange by means of a sealing plate designed with at least one through opening that is sealed against the companion flange and is arranged flush with an apparatus-side fluid duct. Therein, it is provided that the surface area of the sealing plate, as seen on the plane of the flange connection, is smaller than the surface area of the mounting flange and that the sealing plate is inserted in the filter socket in a sealing manner and forms a part of the filter socket.
US07712610B2
The present invention is directed to a vial including a stack of test sensors, wherein the vial includes a vial body and a vial cap and a seal. In one embodiment of the present invention, the seal includes an annular ledge, a flange attached to the annular ledge, a hinge, also referred to as an annular line of weakness, and a skirt. In one embodiment of the present invention, the annular line of weakness is positioned between the skirt and the flange such that the skirt folds outward when pressure is applied to the annular ledge, such as, for example, when the skirt is pressed against a sealing surface of the vial body.
US07712606B2
The invention provides a two-part package and method of use for a pre-attached medical implant and delivery tool system. The package includes a wet compartment and a dry compartment and allows a pre-attached implant and delivery tool system to be at least partially stored immersed in a fluid in the wet compartment and at least partially stored in the dry compartment. In one embodiment the implant comprises a replacement heart valve, and the heart valve is stored inside the wet compartment while the heart valve delivery tool remains dry in the dry compartment.
US07712604B2
A device for receiving and transporting articles, in particular syringes and the like, of a type comprising a transfer carousel destined to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis peripherally bearing a series of seatings for receiving single articles from a supply station and for transferring the articles to a receiving station. The seatings are fashioned from respective shaped and recessed surfaces realized on respective appendages peripherally associated to the carousel and elastically deformable such as to absorb any variations in size of the articles.
US07712597B2
A device for sorting coins in at least four coin tubes of a coin changer that leave a coin testing device, the coin tubes being located in a common plane, the device comprising a housing having a substantially vertical wall, a first gate element including a first runway inclined relative to a horizontal level and a barrier portion at the lower end of a first runway, the first gate element being supported for movement approximately perpendicular to wall and actuable by a first electro magnet between two positions, in the first position the first runway projecting from wall and the first barrier portion together with wall forming a passage whereby a coin may roll along the first runway through the passage while in the second position the runway extends into wall and the first barrier portion is adjacent to wall.
US07712595B2
A clutch release bearing assembly is provided that includes a housing that encloses a bearing, release sleeve and bushing. The housing defines a reservoir for grease that is supplied to the bearing and bushing. Slots are provided in the release sleeve through which grease is provided to the bushing and the input shaft through holes formed in the bushing. An end cap seal prevents contaminants from entering the clutch release bearing assembly on one end and a multi-lip seal is provided between the housing and release sleeve on the other end of the housing.
US07712593B2
A bicycle hub comprises an axle 5, a first part 7 being seated on the axle 5 and being provided with or connected to a cog 6, a second part 8 being movable relative to the first part 7 in longitudinal and rotational direction of the axle 5, the first part 7 and the second part 8 being in contact with each other via a screw coupling provided by threads 7′ and 8′, a hub body 11 being arranged around at least the second part 8, the second part 8 being provided with a first cone surface 9, the hub body 11 having a second cone 10 surface formed thereon or connected thereto, wherein the two cone surfaces 9, 10 are engageable for power transmission, and wherein an adjustable stopper mechanism 12 is provided, limiting a gap providing space for an axial movement of the second part 8.
US07712592B2
A decoupler assembly for transferring rotary movement between an engine driven shaft and a serpentine belt. The decoupler includes a hub configured to be assembled to the shaft. The hub has a helical first slot formed therein. A pulley is rotatably coupled to the hub. A carrier is mounted on the hub and includes a helical second slot formed therein, as well as an anti-ramp up boss formed thereon. A thrust plate is fixed to the hub and has a slot formed therein. A torsion spring is compressed between a hub end retained in the helical first slot and a carrier end retained in the helical second slot for transferring torque between the hub and carrier. The anti-ramp up boss travels within the slot formed in the thrust plate for limiting rotation between the carrier and thrust plate and preventing rotation of the torsion spring relative to the hub and carrier.
US07712588B2
An adjustment mechanism for a vehicle brake uses an electric motor to adjust brake clearance based on brake temperature and wheel speed. A temperature sensor transmits brake temperature data to a controller. If a brake is dragging during non-braking events, the controller identifies an increase in brake temperature and actuates the electric motor to increase brake clearance. The controller also adjusts brake clearance to accommodate for brake wear. When wheel speed is above a predetermined speed value, the controller actuates the electric motor to move a non-rotating brake component toward a rotating brake component until a predetermined temperature increase is sensed. Once the predetermined temperature increase is identified, the electric motor moves the non-rotating brake component away from the rotating brake component to provide an optimized brake clearance.
US07712578B2
A muffler includes a case divided into three chambers by two baffles. The first chamber is closest to, and the third chamber is farthest from, the exhaust pipe. An inlet pipe has a first end connected to the exhaust pipe, and a second end in fluid communication with the third chamber. An outlet pipe expels exhaust and water from the first chamber to the exterior. A connecting pipe provides fluid communication between the first and third chambers. The second end of the inlet pipe is above the bottom interior surface of the outlet pipe. The inlet pipe may have holes in the second chamber, above the bottom interior surface of the outlet pipe. The connecting pipe may have holes in the second chamber. The baffles may have holes for the water to flow from the second and third chambers to the first chamber. Also, an exhaust apparatus utilizing the muffler.
US07712575B1
A stethoscope protective wrap for a stethoscope including a pair of ear inserts attached to a pair of arms, a sound tube and a stethoscope head, the wrap including a protective wrap installed over the sound tube of the stethoscope, the protect wrap comprising a spiral cut material. A method of assembling the stethoscope is also provided.
US07712562B2
The present invention shortens an intake duct while enabling an intake of cleaner air into the inside of an air cleaner. In a vehicle in which vehicle body mounting parts such as an engine, an air cleaner and the like are supported on a vehicle body frame, a cabin is formed by mounting a pair of left and right seats on the vehicle body frame with the engine being arranged below the seats. An air cleaner is arranged behind the engine with an intake duct for sucking outside air being connected to the air cleaner. The intake duct extends frontwardly from the air cleaner while avoiding a cylinder portion of the engine with a distal end portion thereof being opened in a cabin side adjacent to the at least one seat.
US07712554B2
A percussive drill bit provided with an improved chuck assembly for a down-the-hole drill hammer. The bit has a head at its forward end with a shank extending from the head. The shank is screw threaded along its length. A reciprocating chuck is provided as a sleeve with internal screw thread as corresponding to those of the shank. The shank is releasably secured in the chuck with the read end of the shank providing a striking face. An arrangement of external splines on the chuck, and a retaining shoulder at its rear end, provide for the required guided movement of the chuck within a drill hammer wear sleeve.
US07712548B2
A hand-held power tool includes a pneumatic percussing mechanism (3) located in the power tool housing (2) and having an anvil (5) and a percussion piston (4) for applying blows to the anvil (5), and at least one oscillation damper (6, 6′) including an oscillation damping mass (7, 7′), at least one spring (8a, 8a′) for compressively preloading the damping mass (7, 7′) against the power tool housing (2), and an axially displaceable excitation member (9) for actively exciting the oscillation damper (6, 6′) in response to the anvil (5) occupying an operational position.
US07712539B2
A riser for connection between a vessel and a fixed connection point on the seabed, in the form of an “L”, where the bottom riser arm is connected to the fixed point (2) on the seabed and the top riser arm (3) is connected to the vessel at the point (4). An elastic element (5) is connected to the bend (6) between the riser's arms and an anchoring point (7) on the seabed.
US07712538B2
A tool for shifting a sleeve into at least one intermediate position between stops has a shifting key that only can move the sleeve a finite amount before it is forced out of contact with the sleeve. An overpull key is released for engagement with the sleeve before the shifting key is forced out. The overpull key resists movement until a noticeable predetermined force is applied at which point the overpull key is freed from the sliding sleeve for a normal release. If any key fails to release, an emergency release is provided that independently displaces the key so that the tool can be removed. The tool can be operated in either an uphole or a downhole direction to shift the sleeve depending on the orientation of the keys. Embodiments using a single key type are contemplated.
US07712536B2
A treatment fluid and a method are disclosed for cleaning borehole filtercake using the treatment fluid, wherein the filtercake contains reservoir drilling fluid (RDF) solids. The method includes pumping the treatment fluid downhole in contact with the filtercake to be removed to establish a differential pressure between the treatment fluid and the formation adjacent the filtercake, and evenly propagating treatment of the filtercake during the differential pressure period to delay breakthrough by the treatment fluid for a period from 1 to 12 hours. The treatment fluid comprises a fluoride source providing a 1.2 to 5 molar fluoride concentration, and another acid or combination of acids to provide a pH between 1.8 and 5. The treatment fluid is balanced for a dissolving power high enough to have significant dissolution of the filtercake, but low enough for even propagation to avoid premature leak-off.
US07712523B2
A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
US07712505B2
To provide a tape cutter device that allows a cutting blade to be disposed at a non-adhesion-surface side of an adhesive tape and that can easily form a fold, including a non-adhesion portion, at a cut end portion of the adhesive tape after a cutting operation.A structure in which a cutting blade 11 is disposed at a non-adhesion-surface side 2b of an adhesive tape 2, and is provided so as to be rotatable in a drawing-out direction of the adhesive tape 2 as the adhesive tape 2 is drawn out; in which a torsion spring 17 that biases the cutting blade 11 in a direction opposite to the drawing-out direction of the adhesive tape 2 is provided; and in which a rotating roller 18 is disposed at a holding-portion-3 side near the cutting blade 11 so that the non-adhesion surface 2b of the adhesive tape 2 is wound thereupon, and rotates as the adhesive tape 2 is drawn out, to form a fold 2b, including a non-adhesion portion, at a cut end portion of the adhesive tape 2 so as to be situated between the rotating roller 18 and the cutting blade 11 when the adhesive tape 2 is cut.
US07712500B2
A pneumatic tire 1 having improved uniformity and durability and including a toroidal carcass 6 extending from a tread portion 2 to each of bead cores 5 in bead portions 4 through sidewall portions 3, a belt layer 7 disposed radially outward of the carcass 6 in the tread portion 2, and a cushion rubber 9 having an approximately triangular cross section disposed between the carcass 6 and each of axial edge portions 7E of the belt layer 7, and a method for producing the same, wherein the cushion rubber 9 is made from a strip laminated body formed by circumferentially and spirally winding a first ribbon-like unvulcanized rubber strip and a second ribbon-like unvulcanized rubber strip having a different composition from that of the first rubber strip.
US07712494B2
A log profiler for sawing surfaces into and along the length of a log may be characterized as including a saw carriage selectively translatable along a track, a pair of log holders on the track for holding the log suspended over and along the track and adapted to selectively rotate the log about its long axis, a linear double-acting saw blade mounted on a blade carriage, the blade translatable linearly along the blade carriage relative to both the blade carriage and saw carriage, the blade carriage selectively rotatable and selectively elevatable relative to the saw carriage.
US07712493B2
The folding work bench folds compactly for storage when not in use and occupies a minimal work space. The folding work bench has a durable work surface, a top storage shelf, a back board for hanging tools, a locking mechanism, and a work table that can be folded up against the back board and locked in a compactly folded configuration that also secures the tools on the back board in the work bench.
US07712485B2
A control lever (10) is provided with a grip (12), which in a joint (14) having two degrees of freedom is supported in a housing (11) and can be switched from an initial position in various directions for activating shift elements (18, 19), whereby spring elements (41, 42) are provided for returning the grip (12) to its initial position, and with a functional device for overcoming a pressure point during the activation and/or for retaining a desired shift position. In order to provide functional devices in greater numbers in a gearshift lever of this type without requiring substantially more installation space or substantially higher costs, provision is made that the functional device is constituted by an electrically controllable hydraulic arrangement (35), which connects to diametrically opposing shift elements (18, 19), which can be activated by the grip (12) in two opposing directions of motion.
US07712484B2
A piston, which is displaceable by pilot air, is provided in a main body. A valve plug, which is composed of a resin material, is connected to an end of a shaft connected to the piston. The valve plug is seated on a valve seat section of a sub-body connected to the main body, and thus the flow of the paint to a flow passage is cut off. A seating section of the valve plug, which is to be seated on the valve seat section, is formed to be substantially spherical. Further, the surface of the valve seat section is recessed and substantially spherical corresponding to the seating section.
US07712483B2
A debris trap for use in a gas valve fitting is provided. The debris trap comprises an elongated body extending about a first axis. The elongated body forms a passage therein extending along the first axis between an inlet formed in a first end of the elongated body and at least one outlet formed in the elongated body. The at least one outlet is formed in a side wall of the elongated body to provide fluid communication with the passage about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
US07712482B2
A pressure-reducing valve includes a housing, a pressure-reducing piston, a driving piston, and a spring mechanism. The housing is provided with a primary port and a secondary port. The pressure-reducing piston is displaceably retained in an interior of the housing. The pressure-reducing piston is displaced to control an opening degree of the primary port and configured to separate the interior of the housing into a primary-pressure space connected to the primary port and a secondary-pressure space connected to the secondary port. The driving piston is displaceably retained in the interior of the housing. The driving piston is displaced to cause the pressure-reducing piston to be displaced in association therewith and has a secondary-pressure receiving surface that receives a secondary pressure from a fluid in the secondary-pressure space. The spring mechanism is configured to exert a spring force against the secondary pressure to at least one of the pistons.
US07712475B2
A wafer W is held in a horizontal attitude within an airtight container 41 by a vacuum chuck 42 such that small gaps are formed between the wafer W and the inner surfaces of the airtight container 41. A cleaning liquid is supplied toward the center portion of a front surface of the wafer W through a fluid supply port 40 which is an end of a fluid supply path 5, and is discharged through a fluid discharge portion 44 arranged in the bottom portion of the airtight container 41 in a form of a groove running along a circle having its center located on the center axis of the wafer W. The cleaning liquid flows and spreads from the center portion of the wafer W toward the peripheral portion while removing particles adhered to the wafer W, and is discharged through the fluid discharge portion 44. This arrangement allows the particles to be uniformly and reliably removed without rotating the wafer W. The entire cleaning apparatus 4 has a small size.
US07712470B2
In one embodiment, an elongate body with a proximal end and a distal end is disclosed and which is controllable by an operator at the proximal end; in one embodiment, the elongate body is a catheter and the catheter tip is located at the distal end. The body contains numerous magnets along its length, at least one of which is an electromagnet, controllable by means of a current delivered by the operator of the body at the proximal end of the body. The magnets are placed such that a force is created at the distal end of the elongate body. The magnetic forces which control the distal end of the body originate from the controllable magnets placed on the body.
US07712468B2
A removable magnetic dental appliance is provided. The magnetic dental appliance can be used in the treatment of various conditions, including but not limited to, snoring, sleep apnea, some forms of temporomandibular joint pain or inflammation, myofascial pain or bruxism. The appliance includes an upper arch attachment member and a lower arch attachment member, each for removably engaging at least a portion of the dentition. A magnetic component is positioned anteriorly on one of the upper arch attachment member or the lower arch attachment member and a non-magnet magnet-attracted element is provided on the other arch attachment member for magnetic engagement with the magnetic component when the upper and lower arch attachment members are substantially vertically aligned. The appliance uses magnetic force to selectively position the mandible while still permitting movement of the mandible relative to the maxilla for improved comfort.
US07712466B2
An improved nebulizer places a venturi in close proximity to or inside a patient's oral cavity. One or more medicine feed lines feeds the medicine to a location proximate to a venturi. A plurality of medicines may be administered simultaneously to the patient, with preferably each medicine vial being shape-keyed to a medicine receiver of corresponding shape. The medicine vial or vials may contain a standard unit dose of medication. A portable gas canister can be utilized to supply air pressure to the venturi when a press open release closed type valve is actuated.
US07712465B2
In a paintball gun 10 the valve member 17 which controls communication between the gas canister 13 and the barrel 11 of the gun is balanced by a piston 23. When the chamber 21 is pressurized the piston 23 helps to unseat the valve member 17 when the latter is struck by a hammer 15, thus reducing recoil and permitting use of lighter, less robust materials.
US07712460B2
A release device with a follow-through or recoil motion for use with mechanically launched projectiles. A recoil motion is in a direction opposite the path of the projectile. Releasing an arrow from a bow provides correct form and follow-through motion of a user hand directly opposite to a direction of a path of the launched arrow, to improve flight accuracy. The release device includes a housing, a trigger, a keeper and a recoil assembly. This invention also relates to a method of using the release device.
US07712425B2
An improved floating boat lift incorporates a passive hydraulic pivoting lift mechanism, onto which a boat can be driven and positioned ready for storage using only the motive power of the boat itself. The passive hydraulic pivoting lift mechanism provides mechanical advantage in the pivoting action of the apparatus by way of passive hydraulic action, while at the same time dampening pivoting of the apparatus. Embodiments further allow for adjusting the elevation of the pivot point relative to the surface of the body of water by way of adjusting the buoyancy of the pivoting lift mechanism.
US07712423B2
An apparatus is provided for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil which includes a container for holding the material to be introduced into the soil, and tubing in fluid communication with the container at a first end thereof. At least one electrically controlled injector is provided in fluid communication with a second end of said tubing. Also, at least one shank is provided, which includes a base, and an injector mounting member attached to a surface of the base that is adapted for detachably mounting the electrically controlled injector onto the base. In addition, a controller is provided for activating the electrically controlled injector to introduce the material into the soil. Accordingly, enhanced control of the injection of the material into soil is achieved, and maintenance can be performed easily.
US07712418B2
A closure wad is placed at the mouth of the launching end of a shotgun cartridge before the mouth is crimped down to seal the launching end of the cartridge. Both the walls of the closure cap and the walls at the mouth of the plastic envelope are crimped down together, thereby forming a substantially impermeable seal at the launching end of the cartridge. In addition, the inventive closure cap substantially reduces the detritus which is sometimes expelled when a launcher cartridge is fired.
US07712409B2
A modular armored cab kit is provided for use on an armored vehicle that includes a cab body having a frame, an armored roof, an armored floor and a plurality of attachment elements, with the roof, floor and attachment elements being permanently attached to the frame. The cab kit further includes at least one non-armored panel, at least one non-armored door, at least one armored panel and at least one armored door, each for attachment to the cab body. The attachment elements facilitate field installation and removal of the panels and doors, wherein the non-armored panel and door are removably attached to the frame in a relatively low threat environment and are removed from the frame and replaced with the armored panel and door in a heightened threat environment.
US07712404B1
A tool for chamfering the end of a pipe which is capable of accommodating a wide variety of different pipes, and employing at least one cutter assembly which can be positioned to cut either the outside or the inside edges of pipes, while simultaneously truing the end of the pipe.
US07712403B2
Cutting machines with high-speed safety systems, and actuators used in high-speed safety systems, are disclosed. The cutting machines may include a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a cutting tool and a person. A reaction system performs a specified action, such as stopping the cutting tool, upon detection of the dangerous condition. An actuator may be used to trigger the reaction system to perform the specified action.
US07712401B1
A cutting head assembly holds a pair of tool bits for an on-vehicle brake disk lathe having a platform. The cutting head assembly has a platform key fixed to the platform and extending parallel to a brake disk axis of rotation. The cutting head assembly also has a plate having a plate keyway that slidably engages the platform key. Tool bit arms are adjustably mounted to the plate and support the tool bits. A locking structure connected to the plate locks the platform key with respect to the plate keyway, and the interaction of the locking structure with the plate and the platform key creates a compressive load between the plate and the platform as the platform key is locked with respect to the plate keyway.
US07712400B2
A pretensioning tool is provided for an eccentric tensioning device, which is used for tensioning a power-transmission element constructed, for example, as a flat or toothed belt in a power-transmission drive. The tensioning tool has an engagement structure that can be coupled so that it is locked in rotation with a working eccentric from a front region facing away from the flange side of the eccentric tensioning device and a decoupling structure for implementing an axial displacement of the working eccentric relative to the bearing journal. In this way, it is possible to turn back the working eccentric by hand and with moderate hand forces against the tensioning moment applied by the torsion spring of the tensioning device into a mounting position and to secure the working eccentric in this mounting position through axial decoupling of this eccentric relative to a base plate device.
US07712397B2
A wrench assembly includes a first wrench, a second wrench and a bar. The first wrench includes a first driving device at an end and a second driving device at an opposite end. The second wrench includes a first driving device at an end and a second driving device at an opposite end. The bar includes a first connecting device for connection to the second driving device of the first wrench and a second connecting device for connection to the first driving device of the second wrench. A first C-clip is provided to reinforce the connection of the first connecting device of the bar to the second driving device of the first wrench. A second C-clip is provided to reinforce the connection of the second connecting device of the bar to the first driving device of the second wrench.
US07712396B2
A stamping tool and a method of making a punch assembly and a die assembly of the stamping tool. At least one of the punch and die assemblies including a plurality of laser-cut steel plates having hardened edges suitable to withstand high pressures and impacts generated during stamping operations. The assembly further including an internal passage defined by holes formed in a number of plates of the plurality of laser-cut steel plates.
US07712390B2
Among six follower balls (5) aligned on the input shaft (7), the two balls (5) situated on one end side (A) always engage tightly with one engagement surface (10a), while the other two balls (5) situated on the other end side (B) always engage tightly with the other engagement surface (10b). This regulates the movement of the balls (5) against the engagement surface (10a, 10b) of the cammed streak portions (10) so as to eliminate a backlash played between the balls (5) and the cammed streak portions (10). This makes it possible to prevent the meshing noise from being induced so as to implement a low noise operation. With the point-to-point contact maintained between the cammed streak portions (10) and the balls (5), it is possible to reduce a friction therebetween, thereby improving a torque transmissibility against the follower wheel (4) to insure a smooth rotational movement with a higher precision.
US07712381B2
An antenna arrangement for coupling high frequency electromagnetic waves into or out of a pipe-shaped hollow body includes two patch antenna elements that are located opposite one another and integrated in the pipe inner wall (5) of the hollow body (1), and have curved surfaces fitted to the curved longitudinal pipe inner wall of the hollow body (1). An apparatus for mass flow measurement includes at least two of such antenna arrangements axially spaced apart from one another in a conveyor pipe section.
US07712373B2
A capacitive sensor device, including electrode materials carried by fabric substrates, is provided for monitoring relative movement of an expanding and/or contracting structure, such as the mammalian chest and/or torso, corresponding to a performance parameter related, for example, to respiratory function. Some embodiments include non-woven fabric substrates comprising compliant portions configured to stretch only in a selected direction and non-compliant portions upon which electrode materials are disposed. In some embodiments, layers of fabric substrates, carrying corresponding first and second electrode materials, are configured to cooperate to form a parallel plate capacitive sensor having a variable capacitance corresponding to a relative motion of the fabric substrates.
US07712366B2
A capacitive transducer a first part containing a first set of capacitor plates and a second part relatively movable in a plane to the first part. The second part contains a second set of capacitor plates. Both sets of capacitor plates are built on a substrate, wherein the capacitor plates form a plurality of capacitors. The second part is relatively movable in all six degrees of freedom. One set of the plurality of capacitors measures displacements in a plane and a second set of the plurality capacitors measures displacements perpendicular to the plane.
US07712365B1
A method for communicating data is provided that includes collecting data associated with an individual using an accelerometer. The accelerometer is operable to monitor activity associated with the individual. The method also includes communicating the data to a computing device, which can receive the data and perform any number of operations.
US07712360B2
An air bubble separator is provided for ophthalmic surgical systems, which includes a housing 102 having a diagonally-oriented flow channel 110 and a vertically-oriented flow channel 130 adjoining the diagonally oriented channel. The diagonally-oriented flow channel 110 has a downstream portion 112 disposed downstream of the vertically-oriented flow channel 130, and an upstream portion 118 disposed upstream of the vertically-oriented flow channel 130. The downstream portion 112 of the diagonally-oriented flow channel 110 has a cross-sectional area 114 that is greater than that of the upstream portion 118. The downstream portion's cross-sectional area 114 is greater than the upstream portion's cross-sectional area 124 by an amount or percentage that is sufficient to slow fluid flow through the diagonally-oriented flow channel 110, so as to cause air within the fluid to rise and flow into the vertically-oriented flow channel 130.
US07712353B2
In a system and process for ultrasonically treating a liquid having a thermal conductivity, an elongate treatment chamber housing has an inlet and an outlet such that liquid flows longitudinally through an interior space of the chamber from the inlet to the outlet. At least part of the interior space of the chamber housing is filled with a bed of particles having a thermal conductivity substantially greater than that of the liquid whereby a ratio of the thermal conductivity of the particles to the thermal conductivity of the liquid is in the range of about 2:1 to about 400:1. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends longitudinally within the interior space of the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to generate mechanical ultrasonic vibration within the housing in direct contact with the liquid flowing therein as the liquid flows through the bed of particles.
US07712343B2
A deadbolt mechanism including a lock out mechanism that functions to disable the operation of the deadbolt from at least one side of the deadbolt mechanism. The deadbolt mechanism includes a deadbolt, key cylinder, housing, turn knob and a shaft that connects the key cylinder and turn knob. To place the deadbolt mechanism in lock out mode, a release mechanism is actuated and the turn knob is pulled outward away from the door. By pulling the knob outward, the shaft engages a portion of the housing which prevents rotation of the shaft and thereby prevents movement of the deadbolt from the lock-out position.
US07712337B2
The invention relates to a measuring device, comprising an optical sensory array for determining changes in the position of a drum which is mounted in a washing machine at least so as to be pivotable about a swiveling axis. The sensory array is provided with at least one light sensor, at least one modifiable light passage, and at least one light source. The light sensor is directed to portions of light which are emitted by the light source, are dependent upon changes in the light passage, and impinge the light sensor.
US07712334B2
There are the steps of conveying a glass plate by a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers; and moving a roller in contact with the glass plate in conveyance to position the glass plate so as to conform a posture of the glass plate to a reference posture.
US07712326B2
An energy transfer system includes an energy transfer device, a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe. The water inlet pipe may be connected to a water inlet of the transfer device to extract water from a water source. The water outlet pipe may be connected to a water outlet on the energy transfer device to discharge water to the water source. The water inlet pipe may extract water from a predetermined extraction depth, and the water outlet pipe may discharge water into the water source at a predetermined discharge depth.
US07712323B2
The device comprises a basin-like container in which partitioning baffles define a plurality of cavities or moulds open at the top, intended to hold a respective quantity of water put into them by means of a solenoid valve, for the formation of corresponding ice cubes. An ejection device includes an electric motor device to which a rotatable shaft is coupled, from which stretch a plurality of ejector elements capable of provoking the expulsion of the ice cubes formed in said cavities or moulds as an effect of the rotation of the shaft.Control devices are associated with the motor device and with the solenoid valve, and comprise two cams operatively driven in rotation by the motor at different speeds. These cams have respective enabling and control profiles engaged operatively by the same feeler that cooperates with an electric switch in such a way as to define, in the operating cycle of the device, at least one time interval of predetermined duration for the opening of said water feed solenoid valve.
US07712320B2
A compressor is controlled by generating and storing a compressor operation log. In addition, a compressor operation is selected from the compressor operation log in response to a sensor failure. Furthermore, the compressor is modulated according to the selected compressor operation in response to the sensor failure.
US07712319B2
A method and apparatus for determining the sufficiency of refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system by the use of only two temperature measurements. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser coil is sensed and the temperature of the condenser coil itself is sensed and the difference between these two measurements is calculated to provide an indication of the adequacy of refrigerant charge in the system. This process is refined by steps taken to eliminate measurements during transient operations and by filtering signals to eliminate undesirable noise. A permitted threshold of deviation is calculated by using probability theory.
US07712318B2
A cooling apparatus of supplying driving power to a cooling element from a power supply unit, to drive it, includes a driving power changing part changing a power value of the driving power supplied to said cooling element from the power supply unit, by a predetermined power value at each predetermined time interval.
US07712309B2
An arrangement for controlling a work vehicle includes a power source, and a hydraulic circuit including a pump driven by the power source, at least one hydraulic actuator arranged in fluid connection with the pump via a first conduit, a variable displacement hydraulic motor unit arranged in fluid connection with the actuator and downstream the actuator via a second conduit. The variable displacement hydraulic motor unit is arranged for controlling movement of the actuator.
US07712308B2
A system and method for reducing nitrous oxides in diesel exhaust with hydrogen and carbon monoxide over a palladium based catalyst. The catalyst comprises a compound represented by the formula: X % Pd—Y % V2O5/Z, where X is between about 0.1 to about 2.0, Y is between about 0.1 to about 7.0, and Z is an oxide support.
US07712301B1
A method and system augments shaft output of gas turbine engines that can be used in multiple modes of operation. The system comprises a washing unit capable of injecting atomized water into the gas turbine engine, thereby obtaining a release of fouling material from the at least one compressor blade; and at least one water injection unit capable of injecting atomized water into the air stream of the gas turbine engine's inlet duct or at the gas turbine, under the control of a computational fluid dynamic model, in order to increase a mass flow of said air flow, wherein the power output from said gas turbine engine can be augmented.
US07712298B1
A chain plate structure includes a first outer link plate and a second outer link plate, and each of which includes a first/second through hole, a first/second connection hole, a first/second trough and a first/second engaging trough at two sides of the first/second connection hole. A first/second rib extends from an inner periphery of the first/second engaging trough and at least one first/second protrusion extends from the first/second rib. When the first and second outer link plates are connected to each other, the gap between two adjacent inner link plates of a chain is less than 2.3 mm.
US07712297B1
A single action hydraulic cylinder is utilized to rise a rake arm from the operating position to the transport position. An elastic mass is provided between the outer body of the hydraulic cylinder and an adjusting device, such as a nut on the stem of the cylinder. When the cylinder is actuated to rise the rake arm, the stem extends out of the cylinder body, thus freeing the elastic mass from the contact with the cylinder outer body. When lowering the rake arm to its operative position, the stem retracts and the elastic mass comes in contact with the cylinder, thereby acting against the retracting action and limiting the downward movement of the rake arm. The elasticity of the elastic mass permits small vertical movements of the rake arm to accommodate unevenness of the ground.
US07712296B2
An apparatus that moves through fields of leafy vegetables and trims harvested heads of leafy vegetables. The apparatus includes a body and a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto. The supports are configured for supporting pieces of leafy vegetables. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cutters coupled to the body that are arranged serially and a transport system for moving the supports past the cutters. A collector is included for collecting leaves cut from the vegetables.
US07712279B2
A roof curb is shipped in a disassembled state to an installer who assembles, sizes, locates and configures the curb to accommodate slope on any roof without welding or metal cutting. The curb includes an aluminum walls, each having a channel for receiving the bottom edge of a board, which may be taper cut according to the pitch of the roof to provide a level surface for supporting an appliance. Methods of making and installing the roof curb also are disclosed.
US07712277B2
Exterior building siding for aesthetic and protection of the building against wind, rain and solar energy that includes attaching each horizontal plank from the top of the wall downwardly that includes a starting strip where each plank is interlocked to the plank above it. Each of the horizontal planks includes a top wall portion that fits snuggly into an “L-shaped” groove above it so that the panels can be firmly locked together vertically in a downwardly fashion to prevent any wind uplift against the siding or moisture intrusion.
US07712275B2
Disclosed herein is a method for reducing roof membrane damage from hail/fastener impact by locating a fastener, positioning an energy absorbing material over the fastener and affixing the material to the fastener. Further disclosed herein is a roof system with reduced hail/fastener impact damage characteristics. The system comprises a roof substrate having one or more layers of material at least one fastener exposed at a top surface of the substrate and a dedicated energy absorbing material positioned over the at least one fastener. A roof water proofing membrane is placed atop the foregoing elements.
US07712273B2
Thermal breaker or thermal barrier structures are disclosed for use in connection with roof decking assemblies wherein the thermal breaker or thermal barrier structures effectively prevent the respective transmission of heating gradients from the interior or exterior building environments to the exterior or interior building environments by thermal conductivity so as to render buildings more energy efficient.
US07712270B2
An improved building panel is presented to make wall surface assemblies on structural building frames. The edge-sealed building panel includes with self-aligning features between adjacent horizontal edges for quick mating and assembly. The building panels have protuberant upper edges mate with grooves on the lower edges for improved sealing and weatherproofing, due to the interlocking shape and the use of compliant seals between the edges. The horizontal mating edge shapes enable pivoting assembly by engaging the building panel obliquely and swinging it onto the wall surface. Vertical mating surfaces with compliant seals are shaped to engage perpendicularly to the wall plane, so that the compliant seals clamp shut without in-plane relative motion, improving seal integrity.
US07712258B2
A panel or door suspension system used to hang sliding panels or doors. The panel members are hung by an upper bearing assembly with bearings on each side of the longitudinal axis of the panel thereby allowing the weight of the door to bear wholly on the upper bearings and to act centrally and downwardly between the bearings thereby preventing a moment on the bearings. A wedge member attached to the upper portion of the panel allows for vertical adjustment of the panel relative to the bearings and the door frame. A sill assembly beneath the panel allows for stable sliding operation of the panel member, provides for debris drainage and facilitates servicing of the members comprising the sill assembly.
US07712244B2
An apparatus for releasable attachment to a fishing rod, said apparatus including: a barrel having a first end and a releasably sealed first region; wherein the first region of the barrel includes a space within the barrel substantially bounded by a second end of the barrel and a protrusion disposed inside the barrel; and a means of selectably adjusting the volume of the first region including adjusting the position of the protrusion along a length of the barrel; and wherein when the protrusion is disposed inside the barrel, it extends radially-inwardly of the barrel in a substantially transverse orientation to an elongate axis of the barrel; and a means of controllably feeding a propellant into the releasably sealed first region; and a means of expanding the propellant whereby the said expansion of the propellant causes a projectile disposed within the barrel to be propelled outwardly of the barrel via the first end.
US07712235B2
A lock device is improved in durability by operating the operation member of a boom lock device in a non-contact state to solve a problem in a conventional work machine because there is a problem that the operation member is worn at the lateral rotating part of a boom bracket. In the lock device 51 for locking a boom 16 of the excavating device to the main body, an engaging member is provided on one of the boom and a boom bracket 15 provided on the main body, and an engaged member is provided on the other of the boom and the boom bracket. The engaging member is constituted by a plate formed on one side thereof with a hook part 52a, and on the other side thereof with a slot 52c. A support pin 55 is inserted into the slot, and a stopped 53 is disposed above the support pin, so that the support pin 55 and the stopper 53 support the engaging member.
US07712230B2
A footwear upper having a collar assembly that is joined at its forward edge to the lower portion of the upper by a flexible region of material so that the collar may flex forward and rearward in relation to the lower portion of the upper. In one aspect of the invention, the upper includes a neck portion that is telescopically overlapped by the collar. In another aspect, the upper includes a gusset that extends between the lower portion and the collar, with at least a portion of the gusset being substantially hidden from view.
US07712224B2
Validating the error map of a CMM using a calibrated probe including a stylus, the probe capable of rotation about at least one axis, includes placing a calibration artifact on a table of the CMM, the table having an upper surface in an XY plane; positioning a Z-ram of the CMM in a first calibration position and a second calibration position with respect to the artifact such that the stylus contacts the artifact; calculating a measured value representing the measured length between the first and second calibration positions; calculating a nominal value based on the length of the stylus of the probe; comparing the nominal value to the measured value; and updating the error map of the CMM if the measured value differs from the nominal value by more than a predetermined value. The probe and/or the stylus moves relative to the Z-ram such that the calibration artifact remains stationary while the Z-ram is positioned in the first calibration position and the second calibration position.
US07712209B2
A magnetic rivet retention system for a rivet gun, wherein a magnet is provided in a frame that is engageable with a powered handle. The magnet attracts a rivet and aligns the rivet relative to a punch and die of the rivet gun. The magnet is disposed in an internal chamber in a front bushing. The front bushing is threadably engaged with a back bushing, and both are disposed in a chamber which is provided in a C-frame. A compression spring is also disposed in the C-frame, thereby providing that the rivet gun is spring return.
US07712205B2
In a magnetic head manufacturing method, a floated surface of each block having plural magnetic head elements formed and arranged on a substrate is ground and lapped in a grinding/lapping step. The grinding/lapping step contains an angle adjusting step for adjusting the angle of the floated surface of the block with reference to a magnetic-head-element formed surface of a substrate and grinding the floated surface concerned, and a finishing lapping step of lapping the floated surface at an angle adjusted in the angle adjusting step.
US07712198B2
A microneedle array device and its fabrication method are provided. The microneedle array device comprises a supporting pad and a plurality of microneedles. Each microneedle has a top portion with a via thereon, thereby the microfluid may flow in or out. The intersection between the top portion and the inner tube of a microneedle forms a convex needle structure, and is almost perpendicular to the upper surface. For each microneedle, a hollow closed tube is formed between the top portion and the supporting pad. The fabrication method uses substrates with high transmittance and a plurality of convex area thereon as upper and lower caps, and applies a photolithography process to fabricate a microneedle array mold. It then sputters or electroplates metal material on the mold. The microneedle array is formed after having taken off the mold.
US07712192B2
A belt structure includes a first housing, a second housing, a third housing and a belt. The two ends of the belt are respectively connected to the first housing and the third housing, which can be buckled together quickly. The second housing and the first housing are connected, so that a mechanism for fine tuning the belt can be formed through the gear, the driving element and the resisting element in the first and the second housing, thereby a belt structure with fast buckling capability and fine tuning function can be achieved.
US07712185B2
Disclosed herein is a door hinge device for absorbing the closing impact of a furniture door, which is adapted to minimize a work load and the number of work processes thereof according to assembly and disassembly thereof through the modification of a retaining structure thereof. The door hinge device includes a furniture hinge 10, a damper adapter 20 and a covering member 30. According to the present invention, since the assembly and disassembly of the door hinge device can be performed in a one-touch manner through the interaction between the damper adapter and the covering member, a convenience of the operation according to the assembly and disassembly of the door hinge device is improved, a work load is reduced, and a safety accident such as injury of hands and the like is prevented.
US07712180B2
A wiper blade (18a) has a rubber holder (22) for holding a blade rubber (21). This rubber holder (22) has a connection block (24) coupled to a wiper arm and two sub-holders (25) fixed on both sides of the connection block (24), and the sub-holders (25) each has two rod-shaped spring members (27) curved with curvature radii smaller than that of a front glass and 11 holder pieces (26) fixed to these rod-shaped spring members (27) in a longitudinal direction at a predetermined interval. Further, this rubber holder (22) is formed so that the two sub-holders (25) are coupled to each other via the connection block (24) in the longitudinal direction.
US07712178B2
The present invention relates to a cleaning tool sheet and a cleaning tool capable of use for wiping cleaning by contacting the surface of objects to be cleaned in various locations. In a cleaning tool sheet (1), fiber bundles (3) are laminated on one side face of a base sheet (2); the central parts in the direction of flow of the fibers constituting the fiber bundles (3) are joined by a central joining part (4) continuously formed in the central part of the base sheet (2) and joined at a spot-form joining part (7) formed intermittently on a parallel line between the central joining part (4) and two end edges (2a, 2b) parallel therewith. The two ends (31a, 31b) in the direction of flow of the fibers of the fiber bundles (3) are not joined to the base sheet (2). An attaching part (8) for attaching onto a holding member is provided at both ends of the base sheet (2).
US07712171B2
A patient support including turn assist, low air loss or integrated lateral transfer. The patient support is adapted to support a bariatric patient and includes a turning bladder for turning or assisting in turning a bariatric patient.
US07712162B2
A toddler bed frame system is convertible for use with either a twin or full size bed, and includes a toddler side wall having detachable components for this purpose. A first supporting leg is connected to one end of the toddler side wall, and a toddler headboard is detachably and pivotally mounted about the first supporting leg. A second supporting leg is connected to the opposite end of the toddler side wall, and a toddler footboard is detachably and pivotally mounted about the second supporting leg. A third supporting leg is connected to the opposite end of the toddler headboard, and a side rail panel is detachably and pivotally mounted about the third supporting leg. A fourth supporting leg is connected at a free end of the side rail panel. A fifth supporting leg is connected at a free end of the toddler footboard.
US07712149B2
A protective article of outer-clothing (1,5) characterized in that the article: a) does not enshroud the head of the wearer; b} is not equipped with means for sensing and processing any electrical variations that the wearer's body produces; and c) incorporates an electricity conductive layer (12,14,16,17) which is selected to be of sufficiently low resistance that if, in use, prongs of a so-called stun gun are pressed against the article of clothing or located in proximity to the article and the gun is fired, the conductive layer (12,14,16,17) electrically interferes with the charge applied between the gun's prongs.
US07716745B2
To render digital content encrypted according to a content key (KD) on a first device having a public key (PU1) and a corresponding private key (PR1), a digital license corresponding to the content is obtained, where the digital license includes the content key (KD) therein in an encrypted form. The encrypted content key (KD) from the digital license is decrypted to produce the content key (KD), and the public key (PU1) of the first device is obtained therefrom. The content key (KD) is then encrypted according to the public key (PU1) of the first device (PU1 (KD)), and a sub-license corresponding to and based on the obtained license is composed, where the sub-license includes (PU1 (KD)). The composed sub-license is then transferred to the first device.
US07716741B2
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for checking for viruses by adding a virus scanning capability to a data transfer device. In a method of the present invention a real-time virus checker is stored on a controller. The virus checker scans data as it is being written to a file. If a virus is detected, the suspected file is flagged. Anti-virus software is then invoked to perform a scan of the entire suspected file. In this manner, demands on CPU resources to perform scans will be greatly reduced as only those files marked as possibly containing a viruse need to be scanned, rather than scanning all the files on the entire data transfer device.
US07716739B1
A method includes logging past event sequences in a knowledge base, receiving a real-time event sequence, comparing the real-time event sequence to the past event sequences to determine a predicted event sequence for the real-time event sequence, and providing the predicted event sequence, a suggested course of action with predicted outcome, and a recommendation of a user who previously encountered the event sequence. In the above manner, use of subjectively characterized and/or raw historic data to match real-time event sequences provides users with both subjective advice from those who had previously faced similar conditions as well as raw statistical predictions as to what is expected to come next. This allows the users to take a course of action that results in the most desirable outcome.
US07716733B2
The information terminal device of the invention has a first function of displaying non-confidential data in a selectable manner on its display screen and, in response to the user's selection of the non-confidential data, showing the details of the non-confidential data. The information terminal device also has a second function of displaying confidential data in a selectable manner and, in response to the user's selection of the confidential data, showing the details of the confidential data. The first function is given as one normally selectable menu option and is activated by the user's selection of the corresponding menu. The second function is, however, not given as a normally selectable menu option and is triggered only by the user's series of operations of an operation unit in a preset sequence. No operation-related display appears on the display screen of the information terminal device during the user's series of operations of the operation unit. The information terminal device of this configuration does not hint even the presence of confidential data to any third person and thus effectively prevents the third person from analyzing or decoding the data stored in the information terminal device and having illegal access to the confidential data. This arrangement of the invention desirably enables the safe handling of confidential data without the potential for leakage of the confidential data from the information terminal device.
US07716720B1
The present invention is directed to a system for providing a trusted environment for untrusted computing systems. The system may include a HAC subsystem managing shared resources and a trusted bus switch for controlling a COTS processor to access the shared resources. The shared resources such as memory and several I/O resources reside on the trusted side of the trusted bus switch. Alternatively, the system may include a SCM as an add-on module to an untrusted host environment. Only authenticated applications including COTS OS execute on the SCM while untrusted applications execute on the untrusted host environment. The SCM may control secure resource access from the untrusted host through a plug-in module interface. All secure resources may be maintained on the trusted side of the plug-in module interface.
US07716715B2
An interactive media system includes a broadcasting device for broadcasting TV signals, and a receiving device for receiving TV signals. The TV signals, such as a TV commercial, contain screen related action codes that include device type, action type and other information. The receiving device includes storage for storing the reference address for other home electronic devices, and a button on a remote controller for the users to start interactive with the interactive media system. When the user presses the button, the receiving device will send the action codes to the designated other home device or another TV screen channel, to allow users to perform the action on the other home device instead of performing the action on TV. The system also allows users just use number keys/buttons on the remote controller to navigate web on TV.
US07716713B1
A digital broadcast system includes a digital broadcasting device which transmits service data together with a broadcast program, wherein the service data includes an application which allows a digital broadcasting receiver to perform a particular operation and information associated with the operating mode of the application. The digital broadcast system also includes a digital broadcasting receiver which receives the service data and executes the application when the operating mode of the application is an initial operating mode, and otherwise, waits until there is a service request by a viewer, and then executes the application. The digital broadcast system for broadcasting additional service data together with broadcast programs can arbitrarily select the point of time at which an application provided to a digital broadcast receiver is executed, during the manufacture of contents, so that various types of interactive services can be provided.
US07716710B1
A method for distributing a digital motion picture to multiple theaters in a region via terrestrial wireless communication. The motion picture is divided into chunks, and the chunks are transmitted to particular initial seed theaters in the region. To facilitate the initial seeding, downlink bandwidth on various wireless links is dynamically increased. Once the initial seeding is complete, the downlink bandwidth is decreased and is preferably equalized substantially with uplink bandwidth. The theaters in the region are then directed to begin peer-to-peer sharing of the chunks with each other, possibly through use of BitTorrent or other cooperative downloading process from the initial seed theaters. Ultimately, all of the theaters in the region thereby obtain all of the chunks of the motion picture and can conveniently present the motion picture to audiences.
US07716703B2
Advertising templates, and request for corresponding multimedia programs that are available for distribution to third parties during a time period, are transmitted to content providers who respond by sending ad elements corresponding to the advertising templates. Daypart guides showing particular ad elements are designed for a particular headend and daypart. Each daypart guide is available to viewers serviced by the particular headend only during the time of day corresponding to the daypart. Viewers of the daypart guide select one of the ad elements each of which is navigationally linked to a display request page for the corresponding multimedia program from which the viewer can request to initiate a real time distribution thereof.
US07716702B2
A system and method are provided for delivering data including graphical components to user terminals through a communications network, e.g., a cable TV network. In one embodiment, multiple versions of a graphical component of a program guide, each formatted for a respective aspect ratio of a user's TV, are generated. On the other hand, a single version of non-graphical program guide data may also be generated. A data stream containing the non-graphical data and the multiple versions of the graphical component is transmitted to set-top terminals in the network via a transmission channel. If a graphical component is desired, the set-top terminal retrieves from the data stream a selected version of the graphical component that is compatible with the aspect ratio of the TV to which it is connected.
US07716698B2
A method of analyzing multi-market broadcasts of commercial advertisements, has unique identifiers are assigned to a plurality of expected commercial advertisements, information regarding the plurality of expected commercial advertisements and respective unique identifiers is recorded in a computer database, electronic detections of a plurality of actual market-broadcast instances of a commercial advertisement are received, which comprise a plurality of broadcast markets, information regarding the detections is recorded in a computer database, related ones of the plurality of actual market-broadcast instances of the commercial advertisement is recorded in a computer database, which comprising a plurality of broadcast markets, information regarding a plurality of multi-market broadcast orders of commercial advertisements is recorded in a computer database, and related ones of the actual market-broadcast instances of the commercial advertisement are associated with a related multi-market broadcast order for said commercial advertisement in a computer database, where the multi-market broadcast order comprises the plurality of broadcast markets.
US07716691B2
A disk-storing disk device includes a mechanism base provided at a position beyond the perimeter of a disk stored in a disk storing region provided vertically within a middle portion of a casing, and a switchover member which moves following an arc path is provided on the mechanism base. Switching operations of various types of mechanisms can be performed by this switchover member. Also, other switchover members can be disposed vertically overlapping the mechanism base. Accordingly, the vertical movement region for holding disks can be made larger, and also, the planar area of the casing can be reduced. This allows a greater number of disks to be stored within the casing, while reducing the size of the casing.
US07716688B2
A system for object discovery in heterogeneous object systems includes a fixed object system having a registry. A callee object having a rendezvous name is registered in the registry of the fixed object system under the rendezvous name. The system also includes an adaptive object system having a remote procedure call protocol abstraction layer. The remote procedure call protocol abstraction layer is configured to access the registry of the fixed object system.
US07716687B2
Embodiments of the present invention enable an interface for sharing resources between applications. An indicator can be used to identify resources that are selectable. Additionally, indicators can identify locations of the page that can accept resources and a function to be performed when a resource is dragged into a section of a page corresponding to a web application. By utilizing, these functions, an interface is created that allows a user to select a graphical representation of a resource in a first application and cause the resource to be associated with a second application by dragging the graphical representation of the resource to the second application or otherwise selecting the second application.
US07716681B2
A computer-implemented method of configuring a computing system may include receiving first user-actuated input selecting an existing service provider that processes data objects having a first data object type. The existing service provider may include at least a first class and a second class. Second user-actuated input may be received that identifies the first class and provides a replacement class to use in creating a new service provider to process data objects having a second data object type. An association may be stored in a service provider system between the second data object type, the existing service provider, the first class and the replacement class. During runtime, the service provider system may create the new service provider to process data objects having the second data object type by inheriting the second class from the existing service provider and incorporating the replacement class in place of the first class.
US07716679B1
A system and method provide for synchronous operation of linked command objects in a general purpose software application. The software application provides a user with a variety of operations that manipulate available data objects. The software application manages the data objects in a number of contexts. Each context manages the existence and execution of a number of command objects. Each command object operates on one or more data objects in its context. To support synchronous operations that affect the state of data objects in more than one context, command objects are linked to each other. When one command object is executed, the context of the command object identifies a command object linked to the executed command object and initiates the execution of the linked command object via the context that manages that command object. This synchronization allows for synchronous undo and redone operations. The delete states of the command objects are also synchronized. Deleting a command object destroys it, and prevents it from being undone. When one command object is deleted the command object linked thereto is also deleted, thereby preventing the linked command object from being independently undone resulting in an inconsistent state of the contexts.
US07716673B2
A system comprises a first processor, a second processor coupled to the first processor, an operating system that executes exclusively only on the first processor and not on the second processor, and a middle layer software running on the first processor and that distributes tasks to run on either or both processors. A synchronization unit coupled to the first and second processors also may be provided to synchronize the processors. Further still, a translation lookaside buffer may be included that is shared between the processors. Each entry in the translation lookaside buffer (“TLB”) may include a task identifier to permit the operating system or middle layer software to selectively flush only some of the TLB entries (e.g., the entries pertaining to only one of the processors).
US07716672B2
A method and system for regulating tasks of background processes so as to reduce interference with foreground processes. The progress rate of a background task (e.g., amount of work performed per unit time) is measured and evaluated against a target amount. If the progress rate appears degraded, the background task is suspended for a computed time interval so as to back off from its interference with a foreground process. Each time the progress rate appears degraded, the time interval is exponentially increased from its previous value up to a maximum, however if the performance appears normal, the time interval is reset to a minimum. Evaluation of the work is statistically based so as to eliminate variations in measurements, and automatic calibration of the target amount is provided, as is a mechanism for prioritizing multiple background tasks.
US07716671B2
A template listing one or more associated tasks is distributed to one or more devices, each device having a respective user. A task is selectively designated as either shared or individual. When information indicating that an action associated with a particular task has been performed is received at a first one of the devices, the template is updated at the first device, and optionally at others of the devices to indicate to others of the users that the action has been performed. The associated action of a shared task is performed once for all users, and the associated action of an individual task is performed separately by one or more of the users. Task information is optionally communicated between a template on a particular one of the devices and a personal information manager of the respective user of a particular device.
US07716667B2
A cluster comprises a plurality of computer systems, wherein each of the plurality of computer systems is configured to execute one or more virtual machines. Each of the plurality of computer systems comprises hardware and a plurality of instructions. The plurality of instructions, when executed on the hardware, migrates at least a first virtual machine executing on a first computer system of the plurality of computer systems to a second computer system of the plurality of computer systems. The plurality of instructions migrates the first virtual machine responsive to a first load of the first computer system prior to the migration exceeding a second load of the second computer system prior to the migration.
US07716664B2
A metadata-based application model for software systems provides for the integration and storing of application metadata with the application itself effectively replacing the system registry. In calling or updating the application components or modules, queries to the metadata within the application folders returns references to the files with metadata that matches the query. The component or modules are called or updated within the file using the returned reference. The present invention also provides a data structure comprising a data field for the application code and another field for the metadata.
US07716661B2
A method and system for updating an OS of an embedded device. The embedded device provides its current OS version information to a mobile operation network via a SMS message. The embedded device can provide its current OS version information to a mobile operation network in response to a request from a mobile operator network that has implemented the SyncML specifications promulgated by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). The mobile operator network interacts with the datacenter to provide the embedded devices's current OS version and get the address of the image update. The mobile operator service sends the address to the embedded device via another SMS message. The embedded device downloads the image update using the RF link via a global packet radio service (GPRS) connection.
US07716659B2
A method for controlling transfer of files in a network of inserters at a plurality of sites from a remote command center. The method retrieving inserter data stored at the plurality of inserter sites and storing the data at the command center. The command center further uploading software updates to the plurality of inserters in accordance with a predefined upload/download scheme. The upload/download scheme defined at the command center via a graphical interface. The upload/download scheme identifying one or more of the plurality of inserters for the file transfer transaction, identifying inserter data from the selected one or more inserters to upload to the command center, identifying software updates to download from the command center to the one or more selected inserters, identifying a time for the file transfer transaction, identifying a sequence for the upload and download portions of the transfer transaction; and executing the defined file transfer transaction.
US07716645B2
A system and method includes steps or acts of receiving and examining a computer program written in an object-oriented language; receiving sequences of accesses that form logical operations on a set of memory locations used by the program; receiving definitions of atomic sets of memory locations, each consisting of pieces of data; providing a message indicating where the synchronization is required.
US07716638B2
A machine readable description of a new feature of a processor is provided by a processor vendor. Control code executing on a processor, such as a traditional operating system kernel, a partitioning kernel, or the like can be programmed to receive the description of the feature and to use information provided by the description to detect, enable and manage operation of the new feature.
US07716629B2
A method and system for generating a computer application is disclosed. The computer application is generated on a host system in an arbitrary object framework that separates a content of said computer application, a form of said computer application and a functionality of said computer application. Arbitrary objects are created with corresponding arbitrary names of various object types for generating said content of said computer application, said form of said computer application, and said functionality of said computer application. The arbitrary objects are managed in an object library. The arbitrary objects are deployed from said object library into a design framework to create said computer application.
US07716627B1
In an electronic design automation technique for optical proximity correction, an optimized mask function that has values other than those allowed for a particular mask type, such as 0 and 1 for a chrome-on-glass binary mask, evolves it to a solution restricted to these values or narrow intervals near them. The technique “regularizes” the solution by mixing in a new cost functional that encourages the mask to assume the desired values. The mixing in may be done over one or more steps or even “quasistatically,” in which the total cost functional and the mask is brought from pure goodness-of-fit to the printed layout for given conditions to pure manufacturability by keeping the total cost functional minimized step-by-step. A goal of this gradual mixing-in is to do thermodynamically optimal work on the mask function to bring it to manufacturable values.
US07716620B2
A moment-based method and system for evaluation of metal layer transient currents in an integrated circuit provides a computationally efficient evaluation of transient current magnitudes through each interconnect in the metal layer. The determinable magnitudes include peak, rms and average current, which can be used in subsequent reliability analyses. Interconnect path nodes are traversed and circuit moments are either retrieved from a previous interconnect delay analysis or are computed. For each pair of nodes, current moments are computed from the circuit moments. The average current is computed from the zero-order circuit moment and the peak and rms currents are obtained from expressions according to a lognormal or other distribution shape assumption for the current waveform at each node.
US07716618B2
A method and system are disclosed for designing a complex integrated electronic circuit architecture including a plurality of circuit portions integrated into a single chip structure. The method includes providing at least one library of cells with a variable channel length L; creating a layout of an integrated circuit using the cells with an initial channel length L; performing a timing analysis of the integrated circuit to analyze more and less critical paths by evaluating respective path delays; selecting a set of less critical paths to be modified; evaluating the leakage currents of the less critical paths of the selected set; and modifying the variable channel length L of the cells which are involved in the less critical paths of the selected set on the basis of the corresponding evaluated leakage current and the respective path delays, whereby a modified integrated circuit with a reduced circuit leakage current is obtained.
US07716615B2
Method, system, IC and design structure for meeting a performance requirement using redundant critical path circuits, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the IC includes a plurality of redundant critical path circuits, wherein at least one of the plurality of redundant critical path circuits meeting a performance requirement is operational and the others are non-operational.
US07716611B2
A technique for reducing a circuit listing. According to examples of the technique, at least a portion of a circuit listing is analyzed to identify occurrences of a circuit structure made up of a plurality of circuit components. For each identified occurrence of the defined circuit structure, an injection data object is created corresponding to the plurality of components, and the injection data object is substituted into the portion of the circuit listing in place of the plurality of components. For each occurrence of the defined structure, one or more properties of the occurrence of the defined structure may be determined and contained by the corresponding injection data object.
US07716608B2
A scheduling approach enables scheduling sequential execution of rules in a single cycle of a synchronous system without necessarily requiring explicit implementation of a composite rule for each sequence of rules than may be composed. One method for designing a synchronous digital system includes using modules with multiple successive interfaces such that within the a single clocked cycle, each module performs a function equivalent to completing interactions through one of its interfaces before performing interactions through any succeeding one of its interfaces. The scheduled state transition rules are associated with corresponding interfaces of the modules.
US07716607B2
In an automatic analyzer for performing qualitative and quantitative analyses of living samples, such as blood and urine, a capability of recognizing the analyzer state, e.g., the state under run of analysis or the stopped state, from a distance is provided without increasing the cost. To realize that capability, the screen saver function of a display is modified to have the function of recognizing the analyzer state and reflecting the recognized analyzer state on a design of a screen image displayed with the screen saver function.
US07716593B2
Improved conversation grouping methods and systems are provided for electronic mail records. Electronic mail messages that are unread or flagged for follow-up are automatically displayed under an associated conversation grouping heading. If a conversation grouping contains only a single unread or flagged electronic mail message, the single electronic mail message is automatically displayed under the conversation grouping heading for review by a user. For a conversation grouping having no unread or flagged electronic mail messages, the latest electronic mail message in the grouping is automatically displayed under the conversation grouping heading.
US07716588B2
A graphical user interface for a network of content devices that includes two or more graphical representations of two or more respective content devices that are coupled to a content device network. Graphical representations of two or more content streams between the graphical representations of content devices have graphical indicia, and two or more content display windows are provided to display content. Displayed content is associated with respective graphical indicia of the content streams so as to inform a user viewing the graphical representation of the content streams that the content streams carry the displayed content. In variations, the graphical user interface includes a master menu box that includes a content source selection menu for selecting a source content device, a content directory displaying content available from the source content device and a destination menu for selecting a destination content device.
US07716584B2
A BD-ROM has recorded therein an AV Clip generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream. The graphics stream represents an interactive display to be overlayed with the video stream, and includes a sequence of three Button State groups. The interactive display includes a plurality of buttons, each of which changes from a normal state to a selected state, and from the selected state to an active state, according to a user operation. In the three Button State groups in the graphics stream, the first-order group (N-ODSs) is made of a plurality of pieces of graphics data, which represent normal states of the buttons, the second-order group (S-ODSs) is made of a plurality of pieces of graphics data, which represent selected states of the buttons, and the third-order group (A-ODSs) is made of a plurality of pieces of graphics data, which represent active states of the buttons.
US07716581B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to analyze a patent document by receiving patent application text including background, description of drawings, description and claims; generating a claim chart showing claim dependencies; checking for antecedent, support in drawings, support in the description; generating a navigable claim hierarchy; and generating a diagnostic message for the patent document.
US07716564B2
Register exchange network for radix-4 SOVA (Soft-Output Viterbi Algorithm). Two trellis stages are processed simultaneously and in parallel with one another (e.g., during a single clock cycle) thereby significantly increasing data throughput. Any one or more modules within an REX (Register Exchange) module are implemented using a radix-4 architecture to increase data throughput. Any one or more of a SMU (Survivor Memory Unit), a PED (Path Equivalency Detector), and a RMU (Reliability Measure Unit) are implemented in accordance with the principles of radix-4 decoding processing.
US07716561B2
A method and apparatus are provided for error correction of a communication signal. A multiple threshold scheme for iteratively decoding a received codeword includes using a comparison of an updated bit reliability with a threshold to generate a reconstructed version of the received codeword. At each iteration the bit reliability and the reconstructed codeword are updated based on a comparison using a threshold that has been updated for the given iteration. Embodiments include decoding and/or associated encoding methods and apparatus using a threshold having two of more values during the iterative decoding.
US07716560B1
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for accurately identifying optical or digital impairments on a span using FEC errors identified at an intermediary node. This information may be provided to an end node within a network to switch to a redundant path around the impaired optical path or span therein. In one embodiment of the invention, signal degradation is identified by analyzing FEC data within a FEC decoded signal at an intermediary node. An identification of signal degradation provides an indication of a potential failing span within an optical link, which may be provided in-band or out-of-band to a terminal node so that a signal may be switched around a failing path, or span therein, prior to an actual failure event.
US07716559B2
The invention concerns a method for securing a data packet stream involving the following steps: arranging the packets to be sent in a matrix of D rows and L columns; to each row and each column of the matrix, applying an error correction function, the result of which is a correction packet; then sending the resulting correction packets in addition to the data packets. The invention also concerns a method for reconstructing lost packets in a data packet stream involving the following steps: arranging the received packets in a matrix of D rows and L columns, taking their sequence number into account; to each row and each column of the matrix containing at least one lost packet, applying a function for reconstructing missing packets using the received packets and the correction packet corresponding to the row or to the column. The invention also concerns the devices implementing these methods.
US07716557B2
A method a system for automatically controlling an adaptive interleaver involves monitoring performance parameters of a transmission system and controlling the adaptive interleaver in response to the performance parameters. The SNR and the data rate of the transmission system are preferably determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the SNR. Alternatively, the BER and the data rate of the transmission system are determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the BER. Alternatively, any one of the SNR, BER or data rate can alone be monitored and used to the adaptive interleaver. The system provides a effective system for adjusting an adaptive interleaver in response to performance parameters of a transmission system.
US07716545B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a target circuit with at least a scan chain having sub scan chains of stages to sequentially shift a test data in response to a clock signal in a scan path test mode, and each of the sub scan chains includes first flip-flops connected in series. A backup control circuit controls the target circuit and a memory such that a plurality of sub internal state data of a data indicating an internal state of the target circuit are stored as a plurality of write data in the memory in a save mode through the sub scan chains and the plurality of sub internal state data are read out from the memory as a plurality of read data and set in the sub scan chains in a restore mode.
US07716534B2
Techniques are disclosed for measuring performance in processing systems such as communications systems and computing systems. For example, a method of measuring performance in a processing system having a plurality of processing devices includes the following steps. A measurement system coupled to the plurality of processing devices generates an interrupt signal. The measurement system applies the interrupt signal to a set of processing devices under test, wherein the set of processing devices under test is selected from the plurality of processing devices, such that each processing device of the set under test makes data available to the measurement system. The available data represents data associated with the execution of at least one function performed by each processing device of the set under test. The measurement system obtains the available data and utilizes at least a portion of the available data to determine a measure of performance associated with each of the processing devices of the set under test.
US07716528B2
Aspects of configurable logic for hardware bug workaround in integrated circuits may comprise detecting within a chip at least one condition that would likely result in an occurrence of a hardware bug prior to the hardware bug occurring. Upon the detection of the condition, at least one trigger event may be generated within the chip via at least one debug signal, and the trigger event may be utilized to execute workaround code that may prevent the occurrence of the hardware bug. The debug signal may be generated inside the chip and/or outside the chip. The trigger event may be generated by combining a plurality of debug signals within the chip with at least one input or output signal of the chip.
US07716523B2
Various embodiments of a system and method for processing a request in a distributed software application are disclosed. In response to a client request, one or more server computers may modify a plurality of different portions of state information. The system may operate to ensure that the portions of state information are all modified atomically. The system may also operate to provide transparent connection failover functionality for the network connection between the client computer and the one or more server computers.
US07716520B2
A multi-CPU computer which is capable of positively performing error handling, and restarting a system even when a fatal error has occurred in a CPU. When a hardware error has occurred in a first CPU, error information is notified to a second CPU by a first error notification circuit of the first CPU. Then, the error information notified from the first CPU is obtained by a second error notification circuit of the second CPU, and error handling based on the error information is requested of an operating system. The second CPU executes a process for storing fault information including the error information in a storage device and a process for restarting the system, according to the operating system.
US07716511B2
A method includes determining a first operational characteristic representative of an operational speed of a circuit device at a first time. The method further includes receiving an input signal at an input of a first latch of the circuit device and receiving an output signal at an input of a second latch of the circuit device. The method additionally includes delaying a clock signal by a first delay to provide a first adjusted clock signal and delaying the clock signal by a second delay to provide a second adjusted clock signal. In one embodiment, the first delay and the second delay are based on the first operational characteristic. The method further includes latching the input signal at the first latch responsive to the first adjusted clock signal and latching the output signal at the second latch responsive to the second adjusted clock signal.
US07716509B2
Embodiments of the invention prevent a storage from being continuously used in a state in which the time of a built-in clock is different from the actual time because of replacement of a battery or intentional tampering of time. In one embodiment, a storage having a recording medium for storing content data includes: a clock that can refer to present time and can set time to reliable standard time on the outside (time synchronization); a built-in power supply that supplies power to the clock; and a nonvolatile memory that records time when the time synchronization for the clock is performed. The storage compares, according to circumstances, the present time indicated by the built-in clock and the time when the time synchronization is performed last time and, when it is made clear that the time synchronization is not performed for time longer than a fixed time set in advance, prohibits an access to a limited access area of the recording medium.
US07716504B2
A method for adjusting power management setting of the operating system while the system is in a sleep state. When a user attaches or removes power to the information handling system while the system is in a standby mode of operation, the sleep state system generates a wakeup event. During the resume process, the operating system checks a current power state of the information handling system and compares the current power state to the power state settings present when the information handling system entered the sleep state, resets the power state settings if necessary and then causes the information handling system to reenter the sleep state.
US07716501B2
A method for providing an integrated circuit with an option of increasing performance after fabrication is disclosed. The method includes performing a performance increase operation which increases the performance of the integrated circuit from a first performance level to a second performance level after the integrated circuit is fabricated.
US07716496B2
When a computer system including a data storage apparatus having a data storage area storing encrypted data is modified to have plural encryption/decryption units, a computer cannot appropriately use the encrypted data storage area if a path including the encryption/decryption means is not adequately determined.In a computer system having a computer 10, two or more data storage apparatuses 100 and 200 arranged hierarchically, plural encryption/decryption modules 199 and 299 on a path between the computer 10 and a data storage area 101, and a management computer 500 for managing the data storage apparatuses and the like, if there is an interoperability between the encryption/decryption modules 199 and 299 and the data storage area 101 is encrypted by the first encryption/decryption module 199, the computer 10 accesses the data storage area 101 using the second encryption/decryption module 299 (or an n-th encryption/decryption module closer to the computer than the second encryption/decryption module), rather than the first encryption/decryption module.
US07716487B2
A technique for imparting substantial break-once-run-everywhere (BORE) resistance to passive and active software objects, and for controlling access and use of resulting protected objects by a client computer (400). Specifically, a relatively large number, n, of identical watermarks (1720) are embedded throughout a software object (1700), through use of n different secret watermark keys to form a protected object, with each key defining a pointer to a location in the protected object at which a corresponding watermark appears.
US07716484B1
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for accessing encrypted data by a client. The method includes receiving from the client by a server client information derived from a first secret wherein the client information is derived such that the server can not feasibly determine the first secret. The method also includes providing to the client by the server intermediate data, which is derived responsive to the received client information, a server secret, and possibly other information. The intermediate data is derived such that the client cannot feasibly determine the server secret. The method also includes authenticating the client by a device that stores encrypted secrets and is configured not to provide the encrypted secrets without authentication. After the authenticating step, the method also includes providing the encrypted secrets to the client. The encrypted secrets 5 are capable of being decrypted using a third secret that is derived from the intermediate data.
US07716483B2
A method establishes a communication between a first electronic device associated with a first trusted authority and a second electronic device. The method includes: making a first key available to the first device for the communication between the first authority and the first device. A second trusted authority, associated with the second device and distinct and autonomous with respect to the first authority, generates a second key in order to communicate with the second device. Furthermore, the method includes: making the second key available to the second device; and providing the first and second devices with a communication key, to be used communication between the first and second devices, through at least one of the first and second authorities.
US07716479B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate identifying messages generated on a mobile device while the device is offline as requiring encryption, storing the messages in a message outbox with a flag indicating that encryption is required, and identifying recipients of the flagged messages to generate a recipient list. The recipient list can be piggybacked on a server synchronization request when the mobile device enters a period of online activity, and a server can return public keys associated with identified recipients to permit an encryption component, such as a secure/multipurpose Internet mail extension protocol (S/MIME) encryption component, in the mobile device to encrypt the messages.
US07716477B2
Mutual authentication is performed by using first and second authentication key data between a first data processing device and a second data processing device. When the mutual authentication is succeeded, the first data processing device uses encryption key data for encrypting predetermined data and outputs the data to the second data processing device. The second data processing device decrypts the encrypted data by using decryption key data and judges whether the data is adequate or not for making the data to effective.
US07716466B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to applying user configurable options during bootstrap and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for user selectable configuration options application for inaccessible nonvolatile storage at bootstrap. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for user selectable configuration options application for inaccessible nonvolatile storage at bootstrap can be provided. The method can include powering up a motherboard for a computer system and reading user selectable configuration options for the computing system from sticky bits prior to bootstrap for the motherboard. The method further can include applying the user selectable configuration options to the computing system. Finally, the method can include performing bootstrap for the motherboard subsequent to applying the user selectable configuration options.
US07716463B2
Systems and/or methods that enable secure deployment and/or receipt of an operating system and/or updates for the operating system to a computer across a network susceptible to malicious communication are described. These systems and/or methods can, in one embodiment, enable a bare computer added to a network to have an operating system deployed to it and updated via the network before the bare computer is subjected to malicious code communicated over the network.
US07716452B1
A method of responding to an attempt to write a memory address including a target instruction which has been translated to a host instruction for execution by a host processor including the steps of marking a memory address including a target instruction which has been translated to a host instruction, detecting a memory address which has been marked when an attempt is made to write to the memory address, and responding to the detection of a memory address which has been marked by protecting a target instruction at the memory address until it has been assured that translations associated with the memory address will not be utilized before being updated.
US07716451B2
A method, system and computer program product for garbage collection sensitive load balancing is disclosed. The method for memory tuning for garbage collection and CPU utilization optimization can include benchmarking an application across multiple different heap sizes to accumulate garbage collection metrics and utilizing the garbage collection metrics accumulated during benchmarking to compute both CPU utilization and garbage collection time for each of a selection of candidate heap sizes. One of the candidate heap sizes can be matched to a desired CPU utilization and garbage collection time, and the matched one of the candidate heap sizes can be applied to a host environment.
US07716450B2
A system for transparent local and distributed memory management overcomes the requirement of keeping track of whether a memory space allocated to a new object or a new program or data structure can be reclaimed. An autorelease pool is created at the beginning of a new duty cycle. The autorelease pool retains the newly allocated memory space during the duty cycle. The autorelease pool is automatically disposed of at the end of the duty cycle. As a result of disposing the autorelease pool, the newly allocated memory space is reclaimed (i.e., deallocated). This is useful in distributed networks where different programming conventions on remote and local machines made the memory management task particularly difficult. This is also useful in an object-oriented programming environment.
US07716447B2
A technique for supporting the sizing of hierarchical computer resources is provided. The sizing support system includes a memory, a table definition module and field calculation module. The memory stores lower level resource data which indicates the kinds and the maximum number of lower level resources belonging to the resources of each hierarchy level, and resource data which indicates parameters of resources of each hierarchy level. The processing is executed in a unit of three levels. In the unit process of three levels, the table definition module generates a table frame indicating the possible configurations of first resource by referring the lower level resource data. The field calculation module calculates the performance and cost of the configuration in the table frame by referring the resource data.
US07716444B2
Method and system for controlling memory accesses to memory modules having a memory hub architecture
A computer system includes a memory hub controller coupled to a plurality of memory modules. The memory hub controller includes a memory request queue that couples memory requests and corresponding request identifier to the memory modules. Each of the memory modules accesses memory devices based on the memory requests and generates response status signals from the request identifier when the corresponding memory request is serviced. These response status signals are coupled from the memory modules to the memory hub controller along with or separate from any read data. The memory hub controller uses the response status signal to control the coupling of memory requests to the memory modules and thereby control the number of outstanding memory requests in each of the memory modules.
US07716442B2
Multiple data devices (A,B,C) are interfaced via a bus arbiter (S) with an external memory (F) so as to support burst-mode access by each device (A,B,C) one or more read registers (R1,R2,R3) are provided in the memory (F), and each register (R1,R2,R3) supports burst-mode access by a corresponding device (A,B,C). The arbiter (s) selects the register to be used following the initial access burst, according to the device requiring access. Thus, the memory (F) supports multiple burst-mode accesses in parallel.
US07716436B2
Dynamic timer configuration for monitoring a long busy state in a remote mirror and copy environment
A system is disclosed that includes a host system to issue a write command, a primary storage controller to write data to a primary volume, and a secondary storage controller to mirror the data to a secondary volume. In the event the secondary storage controller is unable to mirror the data due to a busy state, a busy signal may be sent to the primary storage controller. The primary storage controller may initiate a timer in the event it receives the busy signal, and, in the event the busy state does not end before expiration of the timer, notify the host system that the primary and secondary volumes are in a suspended state. To alter the duration of the timer, the host system may be configured to dynamically alter the duration of the timer by sending a command to the primary storage controller.
US07716431B2
An information processing method according to this invention is a method executed when one or a plurality of applications are executed in an arbitrary node in a computer system including a plurality of nodes, which comprises: obtaining data representing an execution state of an application for the plurality of nodes; calculating a used capability value for each application by using the data representing the execution state of the application and a capability value for each node; obtaining data representing an application usage frequency of each user for the plurality of nodes; calculating a usage ratio of each user for each application by using the data representing the application usage frequency; and calculating a ratio of the used capability value for the total capability value of the computer system for each user and each application by using the used capability value and the usage ratio.
US07716426B2
A prefetch command control apparatus is provided. A protocol slot generation unit, when receiving from a CPU a prefetch command in which a utilization time of data to be prefetched is specified, generates a protocol slot based on the utilization time and registers it in a schedule list storage unit. When receiving a regular access command, the protocol slot generation unit registers a protocol slot in a regular protocol queue storage unit. A cost evaluation unit evaluates an issuance cost of the prefetch command based on a cache retention time of data to be prefetched and evaluates an issuance cost of the regular access command based on a resource occupation cost. A protocol issuance unit decides which command shall be issued, the prefetch command or regular access command, based on the evaluation result of these issuance costs.
US07716424B2
We present a “directory extension” (hereinafter “DX”) to aid in prefetching between proximate levels in a cache hierarchy. The DX may maintain (1) a list of pages which contains recently ejected lines from a given level in the cache hierarchy, and (2) for each page in this list, the identity of a set of ejected lines, provided these lines are prefetchable from, for example, the next level of the cache hierarchy. Given a cache fault to a line within a page in this list, other lines from this page may then be prefetched without the substantial overhead to directory lookup which would otherwise be required.
US07716411B2
Described is a technology by which a memory controller is a component of a hybrid memory device having different types of memory therein (e.g., SDRAM and flash memory), in which the controller operates such that the memory device has only a single memory interface with respect to voltage and access protocols defined for one type of memory. For example, the controller allows a memory device with a standard SDRAM interface to provide access to both SDRAM and non-volatile memory with the non-volatile memory overlaid in one or more designated blocks of the volatile memory address space (or vice-versa). A command protocol maps memory pages to the volatile memory interface address space, for example, permitting a single pin compatible multi-chip package to replace an existing volatile memory device in any computing device that wants to provide non-volatile storage, while only requiring software changes to the device to access the flash.
US07716408B2
A first docking interface includes a substrate. A first power receiver is formed in the substrate. The first power receiver is operable to be automatically docked to a power provider, such as a burn rack, and to receive power from the power provider. A first power transmitter formed in the substrate and coupled to the first power receiver. The first power transmitter is operable to receive power from the first power receiver and transmit power to an information handling system (IHS).
US07716405B2
A computer system, being a stack bus system in which a plurality of computer modules are stacked and connected to one another and being capable of automatically matching and allocating bus resources such as clocks and interrupts, is provided. In the computer system including one system module and n peripheral modules, each peripheral module includes an interrupt selector, a clock selector, an arbitration signal selector, a resource decision unit, and a position identification unit. The position identification unit cooperates with a position configuration unit present in the system module to identify a position of the module, which includes the position identification unit, in the computer system, and autonomously decides bus resources used by the module. By allowing the interrupt selector, the clock selector, and the arbitration signal selector to select and use the decided bus resources, each peripheral module can match and configure the bus resources in the computer system.
US07716395B2
A mechanism and technique to transfer data between a communication device and media hardware in a computing device. More particularly, an embodiment of the invention uses a quality of service to assure deterministic latencies in direct data transfers between a memory buffer and each of a communication device and an audio hardware controller.
US07716388B2
Command reordering in the hub interface unit (HIU) of Enhanced Direct Memory Access (EDMA) functions is described. Without command reordering in the EDMA, commands are issued by the HIU to the peripheral in order of issue. If the higher priority transfers are issued later by the EDMA, the previously issued lower priority transfers would block the higher priority transfers. Command reordering in the HIU causes transfers to be reordered and issued to the peripheral based on their priority. Reordering allows the EDMA and HIU to give due service to high priority transfer requests with decreased weight placed on the order in which the requests were issued.
US07716380B1
A network device includes a data structure and an ager. The data structure includes a group of positions. One or more of the positions are associated with at least one item. The ager is configured to sequentially analyze each position of the group of positions, and recycle, at each analyzed position, any item associated with the analyzed position.
US07716379B2
A standardized 802.11 hardware control interface may be provided such that a driver may communicate with any one or more of a variety of network adapters.
US07716378B2
The inventive system includes a host, a network including a security gateway, and a public application. Established are an access session between the network and the host and an application session between the public application and the network. An application session record is created for the application session, and includes the user's public user identity used to access the public application, the user's private user identity used to access the network, a host identity, and an application session time. To determine the private user identity for the application session, the security gateway sends a query with the host identity and the application session time. These are compared with the host identity and access session time in an access session record. If they match, then the private user identity in the access session record is returned, and it is stored as the private user identity in the application session record.
US07716376B1
Systems and methods enable users to exchange content, such as chat text, with other users that are consuming video media. In one implementation, several users collectively group together to form a video session. The users in the video session each consume the same video media, and the video media is played on individual user computer devices in a synchronized manner. The users send chat text or other content to one another over a network using a computer user interface. The chat text or other content is superimposed over or otherwise merged with the synchronized video running on the individual user computer devices.
US07716375B2
The invention relates to a method for synchronization in networks, whereby the local time (tloc) which is valid at the particular node, is updated at different nodes. For that purpose, timing messages are regularly transmitted by a freely selectable superior node (N1; N3; N6) and only by a superior node to an inferior node N2, N3; N4-N6; N7), which receives the timing messages M1-M8) and analyzes said messages for updating the local time (tloc) thereof. A minimum propagation time (dmin) is determined for a timing message (M1-M8) between an inferior node (N1;N3;N6) and a superior node (N2, N3; N4-N6; N7). When the inferior node (N2, N3; N4-N6; N7) receives a timing message (M1-M8), said inferior node extracts the local time of the superior node (N1; N3), which is contained in said timing message (M1-M8) and adds the minimum propagation time (dmin) thereto, in order to generate a reference time (tcomp,1-tcomp,8). Said reference time (tcomp,1-tcomp,8) is then compared with the proper local time (tloc). If the reference time is retarded in relation to the proper local time (tloc), said proper local time (tloc) is not updated. If said reference time is advanced in relation to the proper local time (tloc).
US07716374B2
A first database implemented on a remote device such as a handheld computer may be reconciled with a corresponding second database implemented on a host computer during execution of an application program on the handheld device. In addition, the application program may be executed according to program instructions stored in an application program file located in the remote device. The databases may be reconciled by first commencing execution of the application program. Then, during the course of program execution, a synchronization instruction located in said application program file is retrieved. The synchronization instruction is executed by establishing a communications link between the handheld computer and the host computer. Subsequently, any differences between the first database and the second database are reconciled. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention contemplate that in addition to reconciling all of the databases located on the handheld and host computers, less than all of the databases may be reconciled to reduce the amount of time required to execute the reconciliation process. In addition, after reconciliation control may be returned to the calling application program, or to another application, as determined by the application designer.
US07716372B2
An embodiment of the invention is a method for providing services to a user. The method includes receiving a request from a user for content and obtaining a user preference defining at least one of a modality preference, a paradigm preference and a service preference. Content is accessed including markup tags associating said content with the user preference. Processes identified with a process markup tag associating said processes with said user preference are executed and the order of processes is dependent on the user preference. Content having markup tags corresponding to the user preference is retrieved and provided to the user.
US07716369B2
Data transmission system based upon the Internet protocol (IP) comprising a private transmission network (18) and a public transmission network or the like (16) interconnected by a network address translation device NAT (12) wherein at least a workstation WS (10) connected to said private transmission network has to establish a communication with a peer device (14) connected to the public transmission network, the local IP address of each data packet from the workstation WS being translated into a NAT address used to provide the route through the public transmission network. The system includes a registration server (19) connected to the public transmission network for registering the local IP address corresponding to the NAT address and providing the correspondence between the NAT address and the local IP address to the peer device in order for this one to replace in the IP header of each data packet received by the peer device, the NAT address by the local IP address.
US07716362B1
A thin client device for use in a home network includes a network port by which the device connects to the home network and a data/memory port by which a data interface such as a memory card or communications port may be connected to the device. The device is configured such that data from the data interface is transferred to a server that is coupled to the home network. The transfer may be automatic or it may be controlled by a user. Where the thin client device includes signal processing hardware, the data from the data interface may be processed by the signal processing hardware and presented to the user.
US07716349B1
The invention, an electronic book selection and delivery system, is a new way to distribute books and other textual information to bookstores, libraries and consumers. The primary components of the system are a subsystem for placing text in a video signal format and a subsystem for receiving and selecting text that is placed in the video signal format. The system configuration for consumer use contains additional components and optional features that enhance the system, namely: (1) an operations center, (2) a video distribution system, (3) a home subsystem, including reception, selection, viewing, transacting and transmission capabilities, and (4) a billing and collection system. The operations center and/or video distribution points perform the functions of manipulation of text data, security and coding of text, cataloging of books, messaging center, and uplink functions. The electronic books may be provided to an intermediate point such as a library or a bookstore. From the library or bookstore, electronic books may be provided to consumers for viewing on the home subsystem. The library may store electronic books for lending on a file server. The library may incorporate security features to prevent unauthorized copying of the electronic books, such as including a time out feature that disables the electronic book after a specified period.
US07716346B2
A setting server connected to a network for use in communication service outputs, to a user terminal provided on a user side, an interface on-screen image for inputting the communication parameters. The setting server accepts an input of user communication parameters from the interface on-screen image. The setting server connects to a communication apparatus on the side of a service provider that provides the communication service. Further, the setting server sets the user communication parameters to the communication apparatus.
US07716345B2
Systems and methods are described for streaming multimedia data from a client to a server using HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A session is initiated with a header that identifies a content length header that is a maximum allowed by the server, regardless of the actual length of the data to be streamed. If a firewall or proxy server limits access to the server, the content length of the data is specified to be about an amount of data that can be streamed to the server in one minute. If more data remains to be streamed when an amount of data approximating the content length has been streamed, a continuing streaming session is requested and subsequent data is streamed to the server in the continuing streaming session. The process repeats until all data has been streamed.
US07716339B2
A system and method for converting continuous data streams received over a persistent communication connection (e.g., for Telnet) into discrete requests that may be issued over non-persistent connections (e.g., via HTTP). An application is served from a J2EE-compliant application server, to clients operating a variety of communication protocols (e.g., HTTP, Telnet). The application is developed according to a single application model, but can be served to heterogeneous clients. The application communicates via a request/response format (e.g., HTTP), thereby requiring clients communicating via other formats or protocols (e.g., Telnet) to connect to the application via one or more other components of the application server. Illustratively, the application server includes a Telnet resource adapter for maintaining persistent communication connections with Telnet clients, and an EJB (Enterprise Java Bean) configured to discretize continuous Telnet data streams into discrete application requests.
US07716336B2
Disclosed are a method, information processing system, and computer readable medium for reserving resources in a massively parallel processing system comprising. The method includes receiving a reservation request for reserving at least one resource within a massively parallel processing system. The massively parallel processing system includes compute nodes, base partitions, switches, wires, and node cards. The reservation type associated with the reservation is determined. The reservation type is at least one of a number of compute nodes, a base partition list, a particular shape configuration, a particular job, and a particular partition. A set of requirements is generated based on the reservation type. A set of resources is identified for satisfying the set of requirements and the set of resources is reserved.
US07716331B2
Method of gaining secure access from a host (13) to Intranet resources provided by at least a content server (18) in a data transmission system wherein the host is connected to the content server through a gateway (17). Such a method consists in generating and sending at predetermined transmission instants from either the host or the gateway verification messages wherein each verification message contains a signature which depends upon the data exchanged between the host and the gateway since the preceding verification message, the host and the gateway also called peer devices having at their disposal same algorithm defining which of them sends a verification message at each of the predetermined instants.
US07716329B2
An apparatus and method for detecting anomalous traffic are provided. More particularly, an apparatus and method for detecting anomalous traffic based on entropy of network traffic are provided. The apparatus of detecting anomalous traffic includes: an entropy extraction module for extracting entropy from network traffic; a visualization module for generating an entropy graph based on the entropy; a graph model experience module for updating a graph model for each network attack based on the entropy graph; and an anomalous traffic detection module for detecting anomalous traffic based on the entropy graph and the graph model for each network attack and outputting the detection results to a user. In the apparatus and method, anomalous traffic is detected based on network entropy rather than simple statistics based on the amount of traffic, so that a false alarm rate of the apparatus for detecting anomalous traffic can be reduced.
US07716328B2
A method and apparatus for calculating a degree of participation of a server in a group of servers is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory stores timestamps for each access to the server. A processor weights the timestamps to treat more recent accesses as more important than older accesses, wherein older accesses decay in importance exponentially using a half-life constant.
US07716325B2
A method and system for determining a potential change in a physical location of a network element. The potential change being assessed to determine whether operating characteristics associated with the network element may reflect conditions and/or circumstances indicative of a possible change in the physical location of the network element.
US07716321B2
A user's content presentation device automatically measures the technical objective quality of an Internet video stream and/or estimates the perceived subjective quality of the stream, and provides feedback to the user regarding one or both of these estimates.
US07716320B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for persisting management information indexes across multiple network elements. In particular, methods of detecting and curing potential collisions among a peer group of network elements by use of a hashing function can be provided in accordance with embodiments. For example, a method for maintaining persistence across network elements can include: (i) configuring one of the network elements, and providing a configuration string therefrom; (ii) performing a hashing algorithm on the configuration string to provide a hash value; (iii) determining if any collisions exists between the hash value and corresponding values from among a peer group of network elements; and (iv) assigning the hash value as a management table index when no collision is found, or assigning a new value for the management table index when a collision is found.
US07716315B2
Described is an enclosure that is configurable to perform either in-band or out-of-band enclosure management. The enclosure includes a midplane, a processor blade, and a management module. The processor blade has program code for collecting management information from other components in the enclosure. If the enclosure is configured for in-band enclosure management, the processor blade executes the program code to collect the management information. If the enclosure is configured for out-of-band enclosure management, the management module is configured to execute program code for collecting the management information instead of the processor blade.
US07716312B2
A method and system are disclosed for transferring large data files over parallel connections. A file can be transferred between a first application operating on a first system and a second application operating on a second system. A plurality of connections are established between the first application and the second application. A send buffer is created to store N segments of the file at the first system, N being an integer greater than one. The N segments of the file are read into the send buffer. Each segment in the buffer is sent on a corresponding connection among the plurality of connections for delivery to the second application. The number of connections can be selected by a user.
US07716306B2
A novel method and structure in which data caching is based on data contents. The method comprises the steps of (a) sending a data request from a processing circuit to a target server; (b) in response to the target server receiving the data request, sending a first response portion of a data response from the target server to the processing circuit; and {circle around (c)} in response to the processing circuit receiving the first response portion, using the processing circuit to examine the first response portion so as to determine whether the processing circuit contains a copy of the data response; and (d) in response to the processing circuit determining that the processing circuit contains a copy of the data response, sending the copy of the data response from the processing circuit to a client machine.
US07716304B2
A switching section is provided between a personal computer, a gateway card, and a common HDD. A CPU controls the switching section so as to connect the personal computer and the common HDD when the personal computer is in a normal power mode. The CPU controls the switching section so as to connect the gateway card and the common HDD when the personal computer shifts to a power-saving mode. When the personal computer is in the normal power mode, a cache memory caches data communicated between the gateway card and the personal computer, and the data communication between the gateway card and the personal computer is executed in parallel with an access to the common HDD.
US07716301B2
A network environment to which an information processing device is connected is recognized and an operating environment of an OS running on the information processing device is changed to an operating environment according to the recognized network environment.
US07716299B2
The invention provides a method, system and computer program product for determining the configuration of a data processing system at the time a transaction was processed. A transaction is received from a client device and tracked through the data processing network. Each processing node within the data processing network is assigned a unique identifier which identifies the configuration of the processing node. As the transaction is routed from one processing node to the next, the unique identifier of the processing node is stored to form a transaction path. Once the transaction has been committed to storage, a unique value is generated uniquely identifying a particular transaction path permutation.
US07716290B2
In various embodiments of the present invention, a customizable, tag-based message is a unit of information transmitted electronically from one device to another that may contain one or more references to one or more pieces of information without the need for these pieces of information to be embedded in the customizable, tag-based message. The customizable, tag-based message can comply with any suitable protocol. One suitable protocol includes a customizable, tag-based protocol, such as SOAP, but other protocols can be used.
US07716283B2
Television system video conferencing is described. In an embodiment, a television-based client device receives program content from a content provider via an IP-based network to display a program for viewing. The client device generates video conference data to participate in a video conference session with one or more additional television-based client devices over the IP-based network. The client device communicates the video conference data to the content provider for association and distribution to the additional client devices, and receives incoming video conference data over a virtual channel designated for the video conference session. The incoming video conference data is hosted by the one or more additional client devices and is received from the content provider via the IP-based network. The client device then renders the incoming video conference data for television system video conferencing.
US07716280B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate replicating a state associated with a client, user, service, application, and the like. A third party service provider can support any number of services that can be concurrently requested by several clients without user perception of degraded computing performance as compared to conventional systems/techniques due to improved connectivity and mitigated latencies. A replication component can generate replicas of states associated with requested services. Further, the replicas can facilitate seamlessly interacting with the third party service provider (e.g., while transitioning between client devices). Additionally, by providing replicas of the state related information, differing third party service providers can effectuate services based upon a request from a client without regenerating the state.
US07716275B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus can provide individual users of a computer system a means to share their quotas to resources accessible through that system. In one embodiment, this is accomplished, in part, by providing a shared quota descriptor understood by a file system and that can be manipulated by individual users. To that end, the present invention further provides individual users access to mechanisms by which to create and adjust shared quotas.
US07716274B1
Various embodiments of a system and method for persisting application state data are disclosed. The system may include a server cluster networked to a persistent data store such as a database resident on a backend system. Each server of the cluster may include a server container providing services for one or more applications along with a persistence mechanism. The persistence mechanism may be able to detect changes to the state of an application and persist only the portion of the application state that changed to the remote, persistent data store. In some embodiments, the persistence mechanism may be a Java Data Object (JDO) persistence manager which provides object persistence and transaction support while masking the peculiarities of resource managers for particular databases.
US07716272B2
The present invention relates to a method of creating a data model for analysis of operations relating to services and to a method for analyzing such a data model. The operations involve parameters, and each operation has at least one input parameter and at least one output parameter. In the a data model there are nodes representing the parameters and directed relations representing the operations, and a directed relation representing an operation connects at least one node representing said at least one input parameter of the operation to at least one node representing said at least one output parameter of the operation. Computer programs and computers for creating or analyzing services using the described data model are also discussed.
US07716271B1
A method for solving routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) problems for all-optical networks involves formulating a joint optimization problem in which the routing of lightpaths and assignment of wavelengths on links of those routes to the lightpaths is expressed jointly in terms of a single optimization criterion. The method features formulation of the joint optimization problem as a continuous variable optimization problem with a convex constraint set. Integer constraints, for example, related to the fact that any particular lightpath is not permitted to split over multiple routes or over separate wavelengths on a link of its route, are not necessarily represented explicitly by the constraint set. However, the formulation of the objective function is such that although the problem is formulated in terms of continuous optimization variables, optimal solutions to the problem are integer or equivalent to an integer solution, thereby satisfying the integer constraints.
US07716260B2
A method and apparatus for reverting a resource to a prior state in time is provided. Changes are committed to a resource at a particular point in time. After the particular point in time, a request, which may be a file system operation request, to revert the resource to a state prior to the particular point in time is received at a database server. In response to the request, the resource is reverted to the state prior to the particular point in time. The current state of the resource ceases to reflect the plurality of changes. Advantageously, if a requestor creates an incorrect version of a resource, the changes made to a schema-based resource are not compatible with the schema, or the changes of multiple requesters are not compatible with each other, the resource may be reverted to the earlier point in time.
US07716257B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to receive context information specifying dimensional criteria defining a first value in a first data source. A context transfer to a second value in a second data source is generated based upon the dimensional criteria. The context transfer is performed in accordance with a translation model with a translation map for mapping between multiple data sources. The second value is supplied.
US07716252B2
Dynamically exposing relationships among entities contained in data stores. A method disclosed herein can include receiving data related to a given object that is contained in a given data store, and dynamically determining one or more relationships between the given object and one or more further objects. These relationships can include group memberships, management relationships, containment relationships, or the like. As the data related to the stored objects changes, the relationships among the objects can be updated. Once the relationships are defined, representations thereof may be presented to a user via a suitable user interface. The user interface may present these relationships as graphic icons, hypertext, or the like, and may further depict the dynamic relationships distinctly from static directory listings. The user may then navigate these relationships by interacting with these representations.
US07716248B2
A method to enable dynamic modification of metadata in a content, the method comprising of constructing the content (305, 505) received from a plurality of content providers, determining a set of rules based on a criterion (310, 405) and sending the content and the set of rules (315, 410, 510) separately. At a receiver end, the set of rules are applied to the content (610, 710) to obtain a resulting content and the resulting content is displayed (615, 715) on a display unit.
US07716239B2
A software application implementable on a computer system for performing process hazard analysis. The process has a plurality of nodes with equipment, and process data created by external applications is stored in a plurality of external databases on the computer system. A plurality of internal master lists are created for the software application by importing the process data from the external databases into the software application. A node record for each node of the process is compiled by inputting information on the node. The node records for each node are organized according to one of a plurality of guidewords. The node records of the process are reviewable by filtering the node records according to a selected guideword, nodes, equipment, or other process data.
US07716229B1
A method and system to generate variants, including misspells from query log context usage are provided. Usage context obtained from the query logs is utilized to facilitate similarity determination. A Similarity Graph generation process generates a Similarity Graph, which is transformed to provide variants having varying edit distances. The transformed Similarity Graph is loaded into a hash table and provides query corrections in a search engine or related terms when bidding on keyword in an advertising system.
US07716227B1
A method comprises determining an importance value for each series data set among a plurality of series data sets and visually representing each of the series data sets in accordance with the importance values.
US07716216B1
Techniques are disclosed that locate implicitly defined semantic structures in a document, such as, for example, implicitly defined lists in an HTML document. The semantic structures can be used in the calculation of distance values between terms in the documents. The distance values may be used, for example, in the generation of ranking scores that indicate a relevance level of the document to a search query.
US07716214B2
The embodiments of the invention provide a method, program storage device, etc. for automated and dynamic management of query views for database workloads. More specifically, a method begins by executing queries, which includes accessing a set of data tables for each of the queries. During the executing of the queries, the method accesses a required data table from a cache if the required data table is present in the cache and creates the required data table if the required data table is not present in the cache. The accessing of the required data table from the cache has a lower processing cost than accessing the required data table from a base table. Also during the executing of the queries, created data tables are stored in the cache, wherein one or more of the created data tables are removed from the cache when the cache becomes full.
US07716211B2
A system and method for facilitating full text searching utilizing inverted keyword indices in shared memory are provided. An inverted keyword index and an inverted keyword attribute index are created from keyword tokens from a set of documents. The keyword indices are stored in a shared memory buffer and accessed by a query processing component. Shared memory pointers corresponding to the indices are dynamically adjusted according to the addressing schema of the query processing component. The query processing component then processes data queries from the keyword indices stored in the shared memory buffer.
US07716210B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for XML query evaluation using early-outs and multiple passes to evaluate an XML query. A multi-pass evaluation procedure evaluates the XML query one step at a time as needed to complete evaluation. The multi-pass evaluation procedure evaluates XML queries containing logical expressions such as “AND” expressions, “OR” expressions, and implied “AND” expressions within “FOR” clauses. Queries containing logical expressions are often satisfied before every component is evaluated. Thus, executing the multi-pass evaluation procedure allows the evaluation to exit early when the veracity of the query is determined, not necessarily when every component has been evaluated. The multi-pass evaluation procedure executes as long as a descendant axis of the XML query need not be evaluated past a child node. When evaluation of a descendant axis past a child node is required, the multi-pass evaluation procedure may switch to a single-pass evaluation procedure to complete evaluation.
US07716207B2
The present invention provides search engine methods and systems for displaying relevant and timely topics. In an embodiment, a method for displaying topics related to a search constraint entered by a user includes receiving a search constraint; identifying a first preliminary set of topics related to the search constraint, wherein the first preliminary set of topics are representative of a sample set of general data items; identifying a second preliminary set of topics related to the search constraint, wherein the second preliminary set of topics is representative of a sample set of current event data items; identifying a set of display topics that is a subset of the first preliminary set of topics and the second preliminary set of topics; and displaying the set of display topics. In other embodiments, other systems and methods are provided.
US07716198B2
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for ranking search results using feature extraction data. Each of the results of a search engine query is parsed to obtain data, such as text, formatting information, metadata, and the like. The text, the formatting information and the metadata are passed through a feature extraction application to extract data that may be used to improve a ranking of the search results based on relevance of the search results to the search engine query. The feature extraction application extracts features, such as titles, found in any of the text based on formatting information applied to or associated with the text. The extracted titles, the text, the formatting information and the metadata for any given search results item are processed according to a field weighting application for determining a ranking of the given search results item. Ranked search results items may then be displayed according to ranking.
US07716195B2
Search methods. A string is first received. The string is divided to generate at least one string fragment set, comprising of at least a first and a second fragments. A record conforming to the string fragment set is searched for and retrieved. A first data block of the record may include or begin with the first fragment, and a second block may include or begin with the second fragment. The first block may include or begin with the second fragment, and the second block may include or begin with the first fragment.
US07716194B2
The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates management and navigation of various data objects by making use of a unique time-line based navigation tool. In particular, objects can organized into a plurality of bands based on their respective subject matter. Each band can be created to designate a particular topic. Objects are organized within the appropriate bands based in part on a time parameter such as a time or date that the object was created, for example. The navigation tool allows a user to navigate or browse through the bands and objects according to a desired time parameter or range of time. Zooming and other browsing options are available to the user to view objects of interest at varying levels of detail. The objects are represented as ASCII thumbnails that are operational. Thus, the content of any object can be modified directly via the thumbnail.
US07716193B2
Ensuring that desired transactions are serviced in a timely manner in a database server. Resources are reserved ahead for transaction classes of interest, and the corresponding information is stored in a resource reservation table. In one embodiment, each transaction instance is admitted for servicing only if the reservation table indicates that sufficient resources are reserved for the transaction at the time instance the transaction is received. Resources may be reserved for specific transaction instances by using a label value, which would be contained in each transaction for which the time slot is reserved.
US07716191B2
Systems and methods for managing digital assets in a distributed computing environment are described. Meta-data for the digital assets is stored separately from the digital assets. Meta-data for some of the digital assets is copied and stored at a central location. Meta-data for the digital assets is generated by clients of the system.
US07716183B2
A method and device for cloning snapshots is provided. A new snapshot can be created by cloning an existing snapshot. The clone snapshot may use the preserved data of the existing snapshot, thereby obviating the need to copy the preserved data. Additionally, the clone snapshot may be created with a data structure for storing write data. Since the clone snapshot initially has no write data to store, the creation of the entire clone snapshot can be accomplished without copying any preserved data or write data from the existing snapshot, thereby increasing the efficiency with which a clone snapshot can be created.
US07716182B2
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for a version-controlled cached data store. A first node is associated with a first identifier and a first version. A control file is received, where the control file includes information associating a second node with a second identifier and a second version. The first version is compared with the second version when the first identifier and the second identifier are identical.
US07716180B2
A distributed, web-services based storage system. A system may include a web services interface configured to receive, according to a web services protocol, a given client request for access to a given data object, the request including a key value corresponding to the object. The system may also include storage nodes configured to store replicas of the objects, where each replica is accessible via a respective unique locator value, and a keymap instance configured to store a respective keymap entry for each object. For the given object, the respective keymap entry includes the key value and each locator value corresponding to replicas of the object. A coordinator may receive the given client request from the web services interface, responsively access the keymap instance to identify locator values corresponding to the key value and, for a particular locator value, retrieve a corresponding replica from a corresponding storage node.
US07716176B1
A method and an apparatus to filter autosupport data are presented. In one embodiment, the method includes filtering autosupport data from a storage appliance using criteria provided by a user, with relational integrity of the autosupport data protected. The method may further include exporting the filtered autosupport data to a public network to be uploaded to a portal server over the public network.
US07716159B2
A computer-implemented method includes providing one or more initial questions, including a first question, selected from a database of possible questions, where the one or more provided questions are selected based on a sales phase of a sales opportunity. A first response to the first question is received, and one or more additional questions are provided, where each additional question is based at least in part on the first response to the first question. Additional responses to the additional questions are received, and a sales strategy associated with the sales phase of the sales opportunity is provided, where the sales strategy is based at least in part on the first response and the one or more additional responses and the sales strategy includes one or more actions to perform. The one or more included actions are selected from a database of possible actions based on their anticipated ability to increase a likelihood of success of the sales opportunity.
US07716156B1
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to managing and sharing data between web accessed calculators. The systems include a data store to persist calculator inputs and outputs and share them with other calculators and with customer service representatives.
US07716148B2
An apparatus and method for processing mixed data for a selected task is provided. An input transformation module converts mixed data into converted data. A functional mapping module processes the converted data to provide a functional output for the selected task. The selected task may be one or a combination of a variety of possible tasks, including search, recall, prediction, classification, etc. For example, the selected task may be for data mining, database search, targeted marketing, computer virus detection, etc.
US07716145B2
Provided is a system 10 which supports a user's behavior by generating a behavioral decision function indicating behavior to be adopted to a certain target. The system 10 includes: a data acquiring section 110 which acquires a cost caused as a result of adopting each of a plurality of behaviors to a target as training data for generating the behavioral decision function, the plurality of behaviors having already been adopted to the target; and a function generator 120 which generates, based on the training data, the behavioral decision function to minimize the expected shortfall of a cost to be obtained as a result of adopting the behavior to the target.
US07716144B2
Techniques are provided that identify near-duplicate items in large collections of items. A list of (value, frequency) pairs is received, and a sample (value, instance) is returned. The value is chosen from the values of the first list, and the instance is a value less than frequency, in such a way that the probability of selecting the same sample from two lists is equal to the similarity of the two lists.
US07716143B2
The invention is directed at systems and methods for offering sewing patterns over a public network. Briefly stated, sewing patterns are delivered as tiled patterns over the public network and printed at a local computing device for assembly by a customer.
US07716140B1
Systems and methods for controlling access to relationship information in a social network are described. One described method comprises receiving a request from an observer for relationship information indicating at least a first relationship between a target in a social network and a second entity in the social network, identifying at least a first privacy rule for the first relationship, and outputting at least part of the relationship information to the observer if the first privacy rule is satisfied.
US07716139B2
A system and method for verifying a digital signature on a certificate, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one embodiment, when a digital signature is successfully verified in a signature verification operation, the public key used to verify that digital signature is cached. When a subsequent attempt to verify the digital signature is made, the public key to be used to verify the digital signature is compared to the cached key. If the keys match, the digital signature can be successfully verified without requiring that a signature verification operation in which some data is decoded using the public key be performed.
US07716136B2
When a person uses a first portable music player to wirelessly transmit a tune to a person with a second player in a social networking transaction for playing by the second player for a limited time, if the second person subsequently purchases an unrestricted version of the tune, the first person is compensated.
US07716131B2
Providing interest to clients' deposited funds without limitation on the number of demand withdrawals from deposit accounts is accomplished by an administration system that keeps all of the records for the clients' deposits and withdrawals, calculates the total of the deposits and withdrawals for all clients, and uses the calculation to determine whether funds are deposited to or withdrawn from one or more deposit accounts in which all clients' deposit funds are kept. Clients can make unlimited withdrawals, such as by check, credit card, debit card, or electronic transfer, through the administrator. By placing the administrator as the holder of the deposit account(s), exemptions to the limitation on earning interest in demand accounts is facilitated; additionally, dispersing the deposit account funds among multiple banks allows the client to obtain FDIC insurance for all of the deposited funds, which may amount to insurance in excess of the statutory maximum allowed (presently $100,000.00).
US07716129B1
In an electronic payment method, the payer transmits to an authentication agency details of a proposed payment including an identifier associated with the payer, an identifier associated with the payee, and the payment amount. The authentication agency creates an authentication code relating to the payment and transmits it to a communications device associated with the payer. The payer receives the authentication code on the payer's communications device and transmits it, together with a secret identification code, back to the authentication agency. The authentication agency verifies the authentication code and the secret identification code and authorizes payment. Thereafter, a customer agency pays the payment amount to the payee.
US07716123B2
Systems and methods are described for automatically processing mortgage insurance claims. In one described system, a central server computer receives inputs from, and provides outputs to, a servicer terminal connected into a network. The servicer terminal captures data from a servicer submitting a mortgage insurance claim. A claims database is connected into the network, containing data relating to the mortgage insurance claim. A claim audit rulebase is connected into the network, for automatically performing an audit and adjustment of the submitted mortgage insurance claim. The system automatically provides results of the audit and adjustment to the servicer at the servicer terminal, and presents the servicer with an option to interact with a claim representative to resolve any issues.
US07716120B2
In various embodiments, real and test trading orders are processed and results are transmitted back to the entities originating the orders.
US07716117B2
Positions held by a trader are made fungible by selecting a first position in a first futures contract that is deliverable and selecting a second position in a second futures contract, wherein the first and second futures contracts are traded in a first and second market, respectively. Offsetting the first and the second positions eliminates a delivery obligation of the trader.
US07716111B1
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for providing principal protection exposure to equity markets. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer implementable method for performing data processing operations associated with providing principal protection exposure to an equity market, comprising the steps of: carrying out a sale of a trust certificate to generate proceeds, which sale is from a trust to a first entity; allocating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the trust certificate to a purchase of an equity security, which purchase is by the trust from the equity market; and allocating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the trust certificate to a purchase of a put option on the equity security, which purchase is by the trust from a second entity; wherein the sale of the trust certificate to the first entity, combined with the purchase of the equity security by the trust and the purchase of the put option by the trust, provides the first entity principal protection exposure to the equity market without causing substantial income statement volatility.
US07716106B2
A common index fund system and method enables investment in entities that is indexed to a common index, rather than individual company performance. For small business entities, the creation, issuance, trading and management of fund shares as a liquid investment may be accomplished with, for example, a relatively stable industry-based risk. The entities receive value from a pool and in return make payments into the pool in an amount that varies according to the index, which causes a corresponding change in the value of the shares.
US07716093B2
An adaptive computerized system of assessing the taxability of goods or services sold at retail or wholesale. The system has the capability to conduct an analysis of all products and/or services sold by a retailer or wholesaler either offline or online and provide the seller with the ability to monitor the tax status, including tax rates, of any goods or services sold by the seller at the point of sale or online in any number of taxing jurisdictions. The system includes a master database which links uniform commodities code technology such as UPC to tax assessment information for goods and/or services sales transactions made by any number of merchants in potentially unlimited taxing jurisdictions. The system also automatically generates tax collection and remittance reports and submit such report and the tax payment to the appropriate taxing jurisdictions.
US07716089B1
An electronic commerce system provides various features for assisting customers in locating items and generating orders from a merchant's electronic catalog, and for assisting customers and merchants in communicating about such orders. A user-definable categories feature allows customers and/or merchants to define search queries for searching the electronic catalog, and to store these search queries under user-defined category names for subsequent use. An “active quote” feature allows the customer to view and modify quantities of items selected for prospective purchase throughout various catalog browsing or viewing modes. A message audit trail feature allows a customer and a merchant to send messages to one another that are linked to a particular order, and to view an order-specific log of such messages.
US07716088B2
A computer system for conducting electronic commerce. The system provides multiple electronic shopping carts for each user. Each electronic shopping cart has an indication of items currently within the electronic shopping cart and billing and shipment information. The system generates a display that identifies each of the electronic shopping carts and sends the generated display to a user computer system. The system then receives a selection of one of the identified electronic shopping carts from the user computer system and receives a selection of an item from the user computer system. In response to receiving the selection of the item, the system adds the item to the selected electronic shopping cart. The system then receives an indication to checkout the items in the selected electronic shopping cart from the user computer system. In response to receiving the indication to checkout, the system ships the items in the selected electronic shopping cart in accordance with the shipment information of the selected electronic shopping cart and bills for the items in the selected electronic shopping cart in accordance with the billing information for the selected electronic shopping cart. The system thus allows a user to select each of the electronic shopping carts for adding items to each electronic shopping cart.
US07716082B1
The present invention relates to a payment mat that wirelessly communicates with a payment device for payment of items, such as goods and/or services, in a retail environment. A customer presents the payment device within the radiation range of an antenna contained in the payment mat for payment. The payment mat may also include a visual indicator, audio indicator, keypad, transaction display, advertising display, receipt printer, and transaction card reader. The payment mat may be constructed out of a rigid or flexible material. The payment mat may be placed flat on counters in retail stores, nearby cash registers or order entry devices. The payment mat may be placed on drive-thru windows in retail environment, such as quick service restaurants (QSR) or pharmaceutical stores. The payment mat may be placed behind a secure order entry window.
US07716078B2
A system and methods are provided for communication between entities that need to coordinate on scheduling events. Communication between schedulers, such as coaches, athletic administrators or organization administrators who may be in charge of a multiplicity of sports or activities at institutions, such as colleges or universities, who need to connect and communicate on a particular task. These tasks may include scheduling of events such as sports competitions or other events or activities in which there may be shared or common interests or a shared network of users, players or participants. Search by criteria to find matching potential opponents for scheduling events is also provided. Automatic schedule updates are maintained, typically in a logically centralized database, facilitated by a messaging system to facilitate ease of scheduling.
US07716066B2
An integrated health care delivery network with enabling software and network technology to maximize bed resources, manage varying census levels, and avoid patient diversions through real-time monitoring, automation and communication, is disclosed. Preferably, the present invention is embodied in a bed management system that interfaces with and complements existing Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) systems. The bed management system is an easy-to-use business intelligence application that is designed to allow administrators, clinicians and managers to easily access, analyze and display real-time patient and bed availability information from ancillary information systems, databases and spreadsheets. It enables users to see trends and relationships in hospital (bed) management data directly from their desktop personal computers.
US07716054B2
Providing for summarization and analysis of audio content is described herein. By way of example, an oral conversation can be analyzed, such that points of interest within the oral conversation can be identified and file locations related to such points of interest can be marked. Points of interest can be inferred based on a level of energy, e.g., excitement, pitch, tone, pace, or the like, associated with one or more speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, speaker and/or reviewer activity can form the basis for identifying points of interest within the conversation. Moreover, a compilation of the identified points of interest and portions of the original oral conversation related thereto can be assembled. As described herein, audio content can be succinctly summarized with respect to inferred and/or indicated points of interest, to facilitate an efficient and pertinent review of such content.
US07716053B2
A system and method for transmitting messages among terminals with increasing uncertainty. According to one embodiment, players in a game exchange text messages via wireless computing devices. A first player selects from among a menu of fixed phrases and inserts words within the phrase to complete a message. When the message is received at a second wireless computing device, the message may be degraded by, for example, by removing one or more words or reducing a reliability rating. As the message is passed to third and subsequent wireless computer devices, the message can be further degraded. By degrading the message, the curiosity of a player can be peaked, thus resulting in more engaging game play.
US07716048B2
A method and apparatus for segmenting an audio interaction, by locating anchor segment from each side of the interaction, iteratively classifying additional segments into one of the two sides, and scoring the resulting segmentation, If the score result is below a threshold, the process is repeated until the segmentation score is satisfactory or until a stopping criterion is met. The anchoring and the scoring steps comprise using additional data associated with the interaction, a speaker thereof, internal or external information related to the interaction or to a speaker thereof or the like.
US07716047B2
A system and method for an automatic set-up of speech recognition engines may include a speech recognizer configured to perform speech recognition procedures to identify input speech data according to one or more operating parameters. A merit manager may be utilized to automatically calculate merit values corresponding to the foregoing recognition procedures. These merit values may incorporate recognition accuracy information, recognition speed information, and a user-specified weighting factor that shifts the relative effect of the recognition accuracy information and the recognition speed information on the merit values. The merit manager may then automatically perform a merit value optimization procedure to select operating parameters that correspond to an optimal one of the merit values.
US07716045B2
A method of coding and decoding speech for voice communications using a vocoder with very low bit rate includes an analysis part for the coding and the transmission of the parameters of the speech signal and a synthesis part for the reception and the decoding of the parameters transmitted and the reconstruction of the speech signal. The method comprises: grouping together the voicing parameters, pitch, gains, LSF coefficients over N consecutive frames to form a superframe, and performing a vector quantization of the voicing information in the course of each superframe by formulating a classification using the information on the chaining in terms of voicing existing over 2 consecutive elementary frames.
US07716043B2
The disclosed embodiments include systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums for compensating one or more signals and/or one or more parameters for time delays in one or more signal processing paths.
US07716042B2
Coding an audio signal of a sequence of audio values into a coded signal includes determining first and second listening thresholds for first and second blocks of audio values of the sequence of audio values; calculating versions of first second parameterizations of the parameterizable filter such that the transfer function thereof roughly corresponds to the inverse of the magnitude of the first and second listening thresholds, respectively; filtering a predetermined block of audio values of the sequence of audio values with the parameterizable filter using a predetermined parameterization which depends on the version of the second parameterization to obtain a block of filtered audio values corresponding to the predetermined block which is quantized; forming a difference between the versions of the first and second parameterizations; integrating information on, inter alias, the difference into the coded signal.
US07716036B2
The present invention utilizes clock bursting to minimize command latency in a logic simulation hardware emulator/accelerator. The emulator/accelerator includes an emulator system having logic gate functions representing a design under test. The logic gate functions further include special burst clock logic for toggling a clock signal to a plurality of latches within the design under test for a predefined number of clock cycles. A host workstation, coupled to the emulator system by a high-speed cable, provides control for the emulator system. In normal operation, the host workstation encodes a predefined number of clock cycles for the emulator to run, then transmits the encoded number of cycles to the burst clock logic via the high-speed cable. The host workstation then generates a trigger signal within the high-speed cable, which directs the burst clock logic to read and decode the predefined number of cycles and begin toggling the clock signal.
US07715998B2
There are provided a horizontal angle detector for detecting a horizontal angle, an elevation angle detector for detecting an elevation angle, a dynamic displacement detector for detecting posture displacement of a surveying instrument main unit in two horizontal directions, and a calculating unit, wherein the dynamic displacement detector detects displacement with respect to standard posture of the surveying instrument main unit 1, the calculating unit calculates the horizontal angle and the elevation angle corresponding to dynamic displacement detected by the dynamic displacement detector, and compensates the horizontal angle and the elevation angle obtained by the horizontal angle detector and the elevation angle detector respectively are compensated based on the calculated horizontal angle and the calculated elevation angle.
US07715997B2
A method and system for semiconductor wafer inspection is disclosed. Each of a plurality of dies on a wafer may be probed with a probe tool to produce probe data. The probe data may be used to generate one or more non-repeating care areas. An inspection tool may use the non-repeating care areas to perform an inspection of the semiconductor wafer.
US07715993B2
A method for estimating pump torque of a computer-controlled fuel injection heat engine for a motor vehicle. The method determines the pumping torque in a for of a relative pumping torque representative for total pumping torque contribution of an intake and exhaust valve system, wherein the relative pumping torque is determined by a relation factoring in engine cubic capacity, a pressure difference, an exhaust pressure differential estimation due to the presence of the exhaust valves, and an intake pressure differential estimation due to the presence of the intake valves.
US07715992B2
A fault monitoring method for a robot (10) or other work machine (30) is disclosed, in which the period that starts when the robot or the work machine starts moving and ends when the work machine stops moving is set as one unit, the difference between the maximum torque and the minimum torque within the unit is set as a maximum fluctuation range, a fluctuation range control value is set on the basis of the maximum fluctuation range, an average is taken of the maximum fluctuation ranges at plural points during operation, a second average value (t1, t10, t100) is determined, and a fault is determined to have occurred when the second average value exceeds the fluctuation range control value.
US07715986B2
The present invention incorporates the use of model-driven and data-driven methodologies to attenuate multiples in seismic data utilizing a prediction model which includes multiply-reflected, surface-related seismic waves. The present invention includes beam techniques and convolving a predicted multiples beam with a segment of a modeled pegleg beam to obtain a convolved multiples beam. The convolved multiples beam can then he deconvolved to attenuate the multiples that are present in the original input beam.
US07715980B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates automatically producing an enhanced schematic destination map to provide directions to a destination related to geography. An interface component can receive at least one geographic destination. A map generator can automatically create an enhanced schematic destination map utilizing a hierarchy of road sets to provide at least one route including at least one road to the geographic destination.
US07715978B1
The present invention is directed to a method of positioning perspective terrain on a SVS (Synthetic Vision System) based on a navigation solution, the vertical component of which is calculated utilizing a terrain database and sensing unit (which provides height above terrain). The terrain database provides elevation of terrain above MSL. A sensor, such as a GNSS sensor, may be utilized to calculate the navigation solution. In alternative embodiments, the navigation solution is calculated differently based upon the phase of flight. In one, the vertical component calculation utilizes the sensing unit at or below the sensing unit's rated altitude. In another, vertical component calculation blends the sensing unit with the sensor. The blending may be based upon percentages based upon altitude or utilize filtering such as Kalman filtering. The present invention is particularly advantageous for close to ground operations, insuring perspective terrain will stay consistent with the real world.
US07715974B2
A method for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine operating with alternating intake valves is presented. According to the method, engine air-fuel ratio can be adjusted by changing valve timings or fuel during a cylinder cycle.
US07715972B2
Driving assisting systems and methods that regulate a reaction force applied to an accelerator pedal based on risk potential, estimated driver's intention and necessity for acceleration, in response to an estimated driver's intention being a predetermined type of intention.
US07715971B2
In the vehicle of the invention, when the driver releases a depressed accelerator pedal, the drive control sets a vehicle speed V at the moment to a target vehicle speed V* (step S440). An engine and a motor for outputting driving power are controlled to drive the vehicle at the target vehicle speed V*. When the driver steps on a released brake pedal, the drive control stores the target vehicle speed V* set before the driver's depression of the brake pedal as a previous target vehicle speed Vpre and cancels the setting of the target vehicle speed V* (steps S470 and S480). In response to the driver's subsequent release of the brake pedal, the drive control sets the vehicle speed V at the moment to the target vehicle speed V* (step S510) and restarts constant-speed drive (cruise drive). When the driver turns a steering wheel to or over a preset degree for a left turn or a right turn, the drive control sets the previous target vehicle speed V* to the target vehicle speed V* (step S520) and restarts the constant-speed drive. This arrangement ensures easy and quick start of the constant-speed drive (cruise drive) and enables the constant-speed drive (cruise drive) according to the variation of the driving state.
US07715969B2
A scene recognition device detects the state of the environment around a vehicle. Risk is determined based on the detected state of the environment. Based on the detected state of the environment and/or the determined risk, an actuator coupled to an accelerator selects one out of different reaction force characteristics of varying of reaction force with different positions of the accelerator. Based on the detected state of the environment and/or the determined risk, an engine output modifier modifies an engine output characteristic of varying of engine output with different positions of the accelerator.
US07715966B2
A computationally efficient method for generating a spiral swath pattern for a region of a field bounded by a convex polygon, the method automatically generating curved portions for the swath pattern having radii of curvature greater than a minimum turning radius based on the minimum turning radius and a definition of the field boundary.
US07715948B2
The invention relates to the control and regulation of a vibration isolation system with a number of vibration signal transducers for providing analogue sensor signals and a number of actuators for suppressing vibrations by processing the sensor signals to form actuator actuation signals for driving the actuators. One object of the invention is to demonstrate a way which enables high-quality parameterizability and regulating performance over a considerably wider frequency bandwidth of a vibration isolation system to be regulated. The invention proposes digitizing some of the sensor signals provided and processing them to form digital actuator actuation signals and processing other sensor signals provided in an analogue manner to form analogue actuator actuation signals and combining the digital actuator actuation signals and the analogue actuator actuation signals to form common actuator actuation signals which are supplied to the actuators in order to drive them.
US07715943B2
A method and system for managing a product during assembly or repair of the product includes use of a microserver configured to function as a local computing workstation and collect, store and process data for the product throughout the assembly or repair process. The microserver may be carried by a support structure that supports the product through the assembly or repair process. The product data and other information relevant to the assembly or repair process are stored on the microserver and may be accessed by other computing devices, both local and remote to the product. The information is updated on the microserver as it happens. Thus, users are able to track a status of the product in real-time. The microserver enables two-way communication such that the other computing devices may also send information to the microserver.
US07715927B1
A myocardial infarction patch for placement over a myocardial infarction includes an electroactive polymer (EAP) structure. Varying electricity supplied to the EAP structure causes the patch to expand and contract over the myocardial infarction. The expansion and contraction of the patch can be coordinated with the expansion and contraction of the heart. The electricity is provided to the EAP via a pacemaker, defibrillator, ICD or similar pulse-generating device. Causing the patch to expand and contract against the myocardial infarction can improve the ejection fraction of the heart.
US07715926B2
A medical electrical lead includes a lead body, an inner assembly extending through the lead body, an outer insulative layer covering the inner assembly, and an electrode mounted outside the exterior surface of the outer insulative layer. The inner assembly includes an elongate inner structure forming a lumen, an elongate conductor extending along an outer surface of the inner structure, and a conductive fitting coupled to the elongate conductor.
US07715919B2
A method and medical device system for controlling treatment therapy delivered to treat a nervous system disorder. During start-up, the medical device system prevents the therapy device from delivering therapy to the patient for a predetermined time period after the therapy device has been activated. During operation, before the therapy device is programmed, the system performs a check on the programming information to ensure that the programming information will result in treatment therapy being within of an acceptable range of one or more therapy parameters.
US07715916B2
An arrhythmia discrimination device and method involves receiving electrocardiogram signals and non-electrophysiologic signals at subcutaneous locations. Both the electrocardiogram signals and non-electrophysiologic signals are used to discriminate between normal sinus rhythm and an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia may be detected using electrocardiogram signals, and verified using the non-electrophysiologic signals. A detection window may be initiated in response to receiving the electrocardiogram signal, and used to determine whether the non-electrophysiologic signal is received at a time falling within the detection window. Heart rates may be computed based on both the electrocardiogram signals and non-electrophysiologic signals. The rates may be used to discriminate between normal sinus rhythm and an arrhythmia, and used to determine absence of an arrhythmia.
US07715895B1
A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging human breasts, in which the system includes a main magnet providing a static magnetic field, a gradient coil insert received within the internal bore of the main magnet, the gradient coil insert including gradient coils providing a spatially varying magnetic field, a patient support table configured to support the patient within the patient opening, the patient support table including a patient support member with at least one breast opening sized and positioned so that in use the patient's breast extends through the opening and is accessible below the patient support member, an RF transmitter coil mounted on the patient support table in the vicinity of the at least one breast opening, and an RF receiver coil separate from the RF transmitter coil and mounted on the patient support table in the vicinity of the at least one breast opening.
US07715894B2
An electrode cap for obtaining EPM signals from a head of a subject, the cap comprising: (i) an insulating layer (33) for positioning adjacent to the head of the subject; (ii) an electrically conductive layer (29) comprising ionic conduction means, situated above the insulating layer so that in use, it is separated from the head of the subject by the insulating layer; (iii) a plurality of measurement signal electrodes (13) extending through the electrically conductive layer and the insulating layer for contacting the head of the subject, the measurement signal electrodes being electrically insulated from the electrically conductive layer; and (iv) at least one reference node (53, 55) electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer.
US07715886B2
The present invention aims to provide a reception apparatus that receives and demodulates a signal transmitted by using time-division multiplexing, with reduced power consumption. In detail, a receiving unit including a tuner operates to receive a signal only during a time period for which a desired signal is transmitted. The received signal is converted into digital data, and the digital data is stored into a memory. With the use of the digital data stored in the memory, a PLL performs all of the necessary operations from synchronization establishment to demodulation.
US07715885B2
A power saving system in distributed wireless personal area network and a method thereof are disclosed. A PS (Power Save) anchor that provides information about hibernating devices to a beacon group through power save information elements in media access control for a wireless personal area network based on a wireless mobile ad-hoc network. Accordingly, all devices in the given wireless personal area network can schedule their active modes and hibernating modes according to hibernating intervals of destination devices with which the devices want to communicate. This can effectively reduce the necessity of the devices' waiting for the destination devices to awake from the hibernating mode as the devices maintain their idle state, and thus the power consumption of all the devices in the network can effectively be reduced.
US07715876B2
A processing unit transmits, from at least one of a plurality of antennas, data corresponding respectively to the plurality of antennas. A control unit generates request signals with which to let a second radio apparatus supply information on rates at the second radio apparatus. When transmitting the request signal, the processing unit also transmits, from a plurality of antennas which includes antennas other than the antennas that transmit the data, known signals corresponding respectively to the plurality of antennas.
US07715868B2
A system and method for establishing and maintaining an “always-on” data connection to a wireless network through the use of a back off timer and a service check timer is disclosed. The back off timer is initialized to a determined value when a connection is not established. When the timer expires, a connection attempt is made. As further connection attempts are made, the back off timer is set to ever-increasing values. When the data connection is established, the service check timer is initialized. The data connection status is determined at the expiry of the service check timer. When, at the expiry of the service check timer, the data connection is determined to be lost, the connection method is employed.
US07715858B2
A secondary station has a receiver capable of resolving signals received (504,510) as a plurality of multipath signals from a plurality of base stations during a soft handover process. In order to decode and act upon the received signals in a very short period of time, an initial subset of received multipath signals is processed (506) to provide an estimate of the action needing to be taken by the station, which action is then implemented by the station (508). Later arriving signals are processed separately (512) and used to update the estimate, as a result of which the action already taken may be corrected (514).Such a secondary station is particularly suitable for decoding and acting upon power control commands included in received signals in a UMTS system, for which a very limited period of time is provided by the UMTS specification.
US07715851B2
A system and method is provided for using a wireless network to determine a device's physical location and retrieve location specific settings based upon the device's physical location. A device's physical location is determined by matching the identifier of the wireless access point (WAP) to which the device is connected with a list of WAP identifiers and corresponding location identifiers. The retrieved location identifier is then used to retrieve location specific settings that are applied at the device.
US07715850B2
Identification of transmitters for signals received by a terminal. To determine the transmitter of a given received signal, a list of candidate transmitters that may have transmitted that signal is determined. A coverage zone to use for the received signal is also determined. This coverage zone is the area where the terminal may receive the signal being identified. The predicted power for each candidate transmitter is then determined, e.g., using a path loss prediction model and the coverage zone. The predicted powers for the candidate transmitters are compared (directly or relatively) against the measured power of the received signal. The candidate transmitter with (direct/relative) predicted power closest to the (direct/relative) measured power is deemed as the one that transmitted the signal. Propagation delays may also be predicted and used for transmitter identification. The identified transmitters may be used to determine a position estimate for the terminal.
US07715849B2
The invention proposes a method for locating a network element, comprising the steps of obtaining (S1) the coordinates (xS, yS) of a second network element (BTS) to which the first network element (MS) is connected or attached; detecting (S2) a serving area (S), which is served by the second network element (BTS); detecting (S3) a propagation delay of the first network element with respect to the second network element (BTS); determining (S4) a propagation delay depending area (C), which is an area having a distance to the second network element (BTS) based on the propagation delay and a width based on the propagation delay; and forming (S5) an intersection area (I) of the serving area (S) and the propagation delay depending area (C); wherein a location estimate of the first network element (MS) is determined (S6) from the intersection area (I). Thus, an uncertainty area where a first network element is located can be reduced and the location accuracy can be improved.
US07715848B2
A wireless communication method and system for optimizing channel selection for an AP. The channel selection optimization process includes four sub-processes: (1) a measurement process; (2) a candidate channel determining process; (3) a channel selection process; and (4) a channel update process. Candidate channels used for supporting communication performed by the AP are determined. The candidate channels are chosen from an allowable channel set (ACS) if a detected interference of each candidate channel is less than an established maximum allowed interference.
US07715838B2
An apparatus and method for providing an aircraft-based wireless communications service is disclosed. An exemplary system includes a plurality of aircraft each including on-board equipment for supporting wireless communications with one or more dual mode handsets and for exchanging wireless communication traffic and control information. One or more ground stations communicate with the plurality of commercial aircraft using feeder communications links exchanging the wireless communication traffic and control information and providing interfaces with a terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure. A control center manages the one or more ground stations and the on-board equipment of the commercial aircraft and dynamically assigns resources to the on-board equipment of the plurality of aircraft using an overlapped set of coverage patterns.
US07715837B2
Plural communication connections are established between an external network and subscriber units by way of a an access network. The subscriber unit connection is supported by plural nodes. When a failure is detected in a node, those subscriber unit connections affected by that failure are identified. A message identifying those subscriber unit connections affected by the failure is sent to one or more other nodes. Affected subscriber unit connections identified in the message are released. Those unaffected connections not included in the message are maintained.
US07715836B2
A transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals includes a transmitter operative to up-convert baseband signals from a baseband frequency into RF signals at a radio frequency (RF) frequency and output the RF signals, a receiver operative to receive RF signals and down-convert the RF signals into baseband signals having the baseband frequency, and a plurality of calibration paths coupling the transmitter to the receiver. Any of the calibration paths can be selected to be active when calibrating components of the transceiver. Tunable components can use calibration information to optimize transceiver performance.
US07715834B2
A wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication system includes a wireless communication adapter configured for wireless communication, a storage device configured to store setting information for the wireless communication adapter, and a device that has an interface configured to be connected to the storage device and the wireless communication adapter. Further, the device includes a controller configured to obtain the setting information from the storage device if the storage device is connected to the interface of the device, and to apply the setting information to the wireless communication adapter if the wireless communication adapter is connected to the interface of the device. The wireless communication adapter performs wireless communication in accordance with the setting information after the setting information is applied to the wireless communication adapter.
US07715832B2
A mobile terminal with a guardianship function, includes: a first module, configured for collecting data related to use of the mobile terminal; a second module, configured for determining the use of the mobile terminal by analyzing the data collected by the first module; and a third module, configured for sending a short message informing the use of the mobile terminal determined by the second module. A method for performing the guardianship function at a mobile terminal is also provided. By using the mobile terminal and the method, a guardian is able to timely learn a ward's use of the mobile terminal, thus effectively monitoring the ward.
US07715831B2
Methods of detecting proximity between a mobile terminal and a wireless accessory device having an associated support function for use with the mobile terminal include establishing a wireless communication connection between the wireless accessory device and the mobile terminal. The established wireless communication connection is utilized to provide the associated support function. In addition, a wireless signal having a limited range is communicated between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device. The wireless signal indicates a proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device. An alert signal indicating that the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device has exceeded a predetermined range is provided responsive to the communicated wireless signal when the established wireless communication connection is not being utilized to provide the associated support function. Related devices are also provided.
US07715823B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing unauthorized access to a restricted item using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with a user, for example, during a registration process. The user is initially identified, for example, by entering a password, and a one-time pseudo-random token is provided to the user using a first communication channel. The user is requested to dial a telephone number associated with an access control service using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with the user and enter the assigned token. The user obtains access to the restricted item if the assigned token is entered from a cellular telephone having a serial number that has been previously associated with the particular user.
US07715821B2
In the method of updating a unique call back number for a wireless unit having originated an emergency call, a unique call back number for the wireless unit is updated (e.g., changed or added to a list of unique call back numbers) based on a received unique call back number.
US07715820B2
A method for automatically connecting a call in a mobile station during an emergency situation. In the method a call connection request message including a service identifier previously set for automatic call connection and a password is received. Next, whether the call connection request message is valid is determined using the password included in the received call connection request message. If the call connection request message is valid, devices for outputting an alert signal of the mobile station are turned off, and a response signal for call connection in response to the call connection request message is automatically generated.
US07715810B2
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for combining stepped drain bias control with digital predistortion for a power amplifier. In one example, the method includes receiving an input associated with a transmit power level of a transmitter in a wireless terminal and selecting a predefined drain bias setting for a power amplifier of the wireless terminal based on the input. A predefined predistortion setting for the power amplifier corresponding to the selected predefined drain bias setting is identified. A drain of the power amplifier is set to the selected predefined drain bias setting, and the identified predefined predistortion setting is applied to a signal prior to directing the signal to the power amplifier.
US07715801B2
A wireless communication device includes a receiver circuit that receives a wireless signal. Here, the wireless signal includes a signal from a node in a communication network to which the wireless communication device belongs and a radar signal. The receiver circuit detects a received power of the wireless signal. The wireless communication device further includes a radar signal detection circuit, coupled to the receiver circuit, which determines if the wireless signal comprises the radar signal based on the received power of the wireless signal.
US07715798B2
Closed loop multiple-antenna wireless communications system with antenna weights determined by maximizing a composite channel signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio minimum. Multiplexed symbol streams over subsets of antennas enhance throughput.
US07715792B2
In wireless communications such as in the Bluetooth communication system, an execution unit sequentially receives software instructions for execution. Prior to completing each instruction, the execution unit issues an interrupt indicating the upcoming completion of the instruction execution and awaits receipt of the next instruction. A Link Manager issues limited instructions, and a Link Controller includes a hardware execution unit for executing the limited instructions. A processing unit in the Link Manager performs remaining functions under control of a software program.
US07715791B2
While a handsfree device being multi-profile compatible is maintaining a connection for a handsfree profile (HFP) with a mobile phone handset, the handsfree device cuts off the connection for the HFP based on a user's operation. After cutting off, the handsfree device establishes a connection for a dial-up network profile (DUN), and subsequently transmits a request for a connection for the HFP while maintaining the connection for the DUN. Subsequently, the handsfree device determines whether the handset is multi-profile compatible according to the response to the request from the handset. Based on the determination that the handset is multi-profile compatible, the handsfree device executes the processes for the HFP while maintaining the connection for the DUN.
US07715786B2
Methods and apparatuses for acquiring and demodulating a data stream transmitted in a communication system. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises finding a boundary of a physical layer frame (PLFrame) in the data stream, finding a first 26 bits of a Unique Word (UW) associated with the data stream, finding a scrambling code utilizing the UW, and using a decoding procedure to determine a modulation type and code rate used for desired signals within the data stream.
US07715785B2
A system and method of compensating for the effects of the antenna coupling in on-frequency repeaters, whose input and output signals are the same frequency, are disclosed. The repeater is implemented with internal digitally determined compensation that reduces the effect of the antenna coupling, allowing the forward gain of the repeater to be increased. The real and imaginary components of the forward gain are dithered. The change in the power spectrum of the signal in response to the dithering is used to estimate the residual (uncompensated) feedback coupling.
US07715777B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a charger that electrically charges the image carrier; an image forming section that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier and develops the electrostatic latent image; a transferring-fixing section that transfers the image from the image carrier and fix the image onto a recording medium; a cleaning member; and a cleaning member moving section. The cleaning member cleans an unnecessary substance adhering onto a surface of the image carrier by abutting against the surface of the image carrier, and is capable of moving between an abutment position and a separation position where the cleaning member is separated from the image carrier. The cleaning member moving section moves the cleaning member from the separation position to the abutment position in accordance with a surface resistance of the surface of the image carrier.
US07715776B2
A cleaning system for cleaning a moving surface of an image forming device, such as a photoreceptor. The cleaning system includes first and second links each having three pivot connections for pivotally connecting first and second cleaning blades together in mutually exclusive cooperative movement alternating between a common Cleaning Position at a first location and respective Suspended Positions. The cleaning system can include a Doctor Blade arrangement in which the cleaning blades are disposed in a Doctor Blade orientation in the Cleaning Position. The cleaning system can include a Wiper Blade arrangement in which the cleaning blades are disposed in a Wiper Blade orientation in the Cleaning Position. The first and second cleaning blades form similar Blade Holder Angles, Blade Deflection Angles and Working Angles when occupying the Cleaning Position.
US07715772B2
An image forming apparatus having a print roller, in which a circumferential elastic contact part of the print roller contacts and presses a print medium to convey the print medium, the apparatus comprises a push roller pressing the print roller to elastically deform the circumferential elastic contact part; and a print media-releasing member including a claw member to be protruded into a space formed by the elastic deformation of the circumferential contact portion, the print medium being released from the print roller by means of the claw member.
US07715767B2
An image forming apparatus includes: plural image carriers that are disposed at intervals and in a line, and that are driven to rotate while carrying images; an intermediate transfer belt that have an endless shape, and that is disposed to be laid on plural rolls so as to be able to contact the image carriers; plural transfer rolls that rotate while being brought into contact with the image carriers through the intermediate transfer belt in a first position, respectively, so as to transfer the images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer belt; and a moving mechanism that moves a part of the plural transfer rolls to a second position keeping apart from the plural image carriers while the part of the plural transfer rolls are kept in contact with the intermediate transfer belt.
US07715764B2
In a developing device including a developer tank having a developing area tank and an agitating tank, a first agitating member, a second agitating member, a toner hopper, and a toner storing container, a toner replenishing port is formed in an agitating tank, and two flows of the developer are produced by a rotation of the first agitating member provided with a first agitating blade and a second agitating blade, from both ends of a longitudinal direction of the developer tank to a vicinity of the toner replenishing port. These two flows collides with each other in a vicinity of the toner replenishing port to produce a pulsation flow of the developer from the toner replenishing port into the toner storing container through the toner hopper.
US07715751B2
A transfer unit of an image forming apparatus includes a belt to receive an image developed on a photosensitive medium while rotating in a regular cycle and in contact with an outer circumference of at least one photosensitive medium. A blade arm, which is installed adjacent to the belt, moves to a first position to position a cleaning blade, which is supported by the blade arm, to be in contact with the belt. The cleaning blade is coupled to a pressure unit to bias the cleaning blade towards the belt.
US07715745B2
An image forming apparatus includes a belt to transfer a printing medium, a plurality of support rollers which rotatably supports the belt, a photosensitive medium which has a surface on which a visible toner image is formed by charged toner, a transfer roller which is disposed adjacent to the photosensitive medium with the belt interposed therebetween, a power supplying part which supplies power to the transfer roller so that a surface of the transfer roller has an electrical potential, and a control part which controls the power supplying part to supply a pulse power, which has a middle power of a same polarity as a polarity of the charged toner, to the transfer roller so that the charged toner remaining on the belt after the belt transfers the printing medium past the photosensitive medium is transferred back to the photosensitive medium.
US07715730B2
The polarization-multiplexed signal contains two data signals that are orthogonally polarized in relation to one another. Their carrier signals are derived from the same source and thus have the same wavelength. The phase difference between the carrier signals, is adjusted or regulated in such a way that it corresponds to 90°. The phase difference of the carrier signals permits the susceptibility to polarization mode dispersion to be significantly reduced.
US07715726B2
An optically isolated circuit device includes a first opto-isolator circuit that is driven by a first clock signal, and the output of the first opto-isolator circuit is used to drive a phase-locked loop (PLL) that is configured to synthesize a second clock signal having a frequency that is a multiple of the first clock signal frequency. The second clock signal is used as an input to a suitable clocked circuit of a type that benefits from optical isolation, such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
US07715718B2
Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) troubleshooting of a passive optical network (PON) can be enhanced by deploying cascaded splitters, at least some of which have multiple inputs. That is, at least some of the splitters in the PON have not only a first input coupleable to the optical line terminator (OLT) or output of another splitter but also a second input directly coupleable to an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). Optical time-delay reflectometry can be performed upon a selected portion or segment of the PON by selecting a splitter and transmitting an optical test signal from the OTDR directly to the input of the selected splitter and analyzing the reflected signal.
US07715717B2
The present invention proposes a method whereby during a specified/specifiable observation period (Ttotal) , the polarization states of optical transmission system and/or the optical signals transmitted by the optical transmission system are changed by applying a targeted intervention in at least one position of the transmission line, and at a second position which is interposed at least one place downstream from the first position of the optical transmission line, a specified/specifiable signal characteristic (BER) is qualitatively measured and checked for adherence to a specified/specifiable threshold condition (BERth) and the PMD-induced outage probability of the optical transmission system is calculated on the basis of the ratio between the length of that share of the time (Tout), during which the measured signal characteristic fails to meet the threshold condition (BERth), to the length of the observation period (Ttotal).
